Capturing clinically relevant Campylobacter attributes through direct whole genome sequencing of stool.

Campylobacter is the leading bacterial cause of infectious intestinal disease, but the pathogen typically accounts for a very small proportion of the overall stool microbiome in each patient. Diagnosis is even more difficult due to the fastidious nature of Campylobacter in the laboratory setting. This has, in part, driven a change in recent years, from culture-based to rapid PCR-based diagnostic assays which have improved diagnostic detection, whilst creating a knowledge gap in our clinical and epidemiological understanding of Campylobacter genotypes - no isolates to sequence. In this study, direct metagenomic sequencing approaches were used to assess the possibility of replacing genome sequences with metagenome sequences; metagenomic sequencing outputs were used to describe clinically relevant attributes of Campylobacter genotypes. A total of 37 diarrhoeal stool samples with Campylobacter and five samples with an unknown pathogen result were collected and processed with and without filtration, DNA was extracted, and metagenomes were sequenced by short-read sequencing. Culture-based methods were used to validate Campylobacter metagenome-derived genome (MDG) results. Sequence output metrics were assessed for Campylobacter genome quality and accuracy of characterization. Of the 42 samples passing quality checks for analysis, identification of Campylobacter to the genus and species level was dependent on Campylobacter genome read count, coverage and genome completeness. A total of 65% (24/37) of samples were reliably identified to the genus level through Campylobacter MDG, 73% (27/37) by culture and 97% (36/37) by qPCR. The Campylobacter genomes with a genome completeness of over 60% (n=21) were all accurately identified at the species level (100%). Of those, 72% (15/21) were identified to sequence types (STs), and 95% (20/21) accurately identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene determinants. Filtration of stool samples enhanced Campylobacter MDG recovery and genome quality metrics compared to the corresponding unfiltered samples, which improved the identification of STs and AMR profiles. The phylogenetic analysis in this study demonstrated the clustering of the metagenome-derived with culture-derived genomes and revealed the reliability of genomes from direct stool sequencing. Furthermore, Campylobacter genome spiking percentages ranging from 0 to 2% total metagenome abundance in the ONT MinION sequencer, configured to adaptive sequencing, exhibited better assembly quality and accurate identification of STs, particularly in the analysis of metagenomes containing 2 and 1% of Campylobacter jejuni genomes. Direct sequencing of Campylobacter from stool samples provides clinically relevant and epidemiologically important genomic information without the reliance on cultured genomes.

Analysis of physical traits, clinical parameters, and energy metabolism of in vivo- and in vitro-derived Flemish newborn calves during the first day of life.

Studies investigating physiological deviations from normality in newborn calves derived from in vitro fertilization procedures remain important for the understanding of factors that reduce calf survival after birth. The aim of this study was to investigate parameters affecting health and welfare of newborn Flemish calves derived from in vitro embryo production (IVP) in the first hours of life in comparison to in vivo-derived calves. Physical traits of newborn calves and fetal membranes (FM) were recorded soon after birth. Newborn venous blood samples were collected at several time points within the first 24 h of life for analyses of energy substrates, electrolytes, blood gases, acid-base balance, blood chemistry, and haematology. A liver biopsy was taken within the first hour after birth for analysis of gene expression of key enzymes of the fructolytic and glycolytic pathways. Newborn IVP calves were heavier and larger at birth, which was associated with heavier FM. At several time points during the first 24 h of life, IVP-derived calves had altered rectal temperature, blood gases, electrolyte concentrations, blood parameters for liver, kidney and muscle function, and acid-base balance, plasma lipid metabolism, and hemogram parameters. The relative mRNA abundances for triokinase and lactate dehydrogenase-B were greater in IVP calves. In summary, IVP-derived newborn calves were at higher risk of clinical problems after birth, which was markedly greater in heavier and larger calves. Such animals take longer to adapt to extrauterine life and should receive a special attention during the immediate neonatal period.

Epidemiological Characterization and Genetic Variation of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Palestine.

The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in Palestine highlights the need for continuous genetic surveillance and accurate screening strategies. This case series study aimed to investigate the geographic distribution and genetic variation of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Palestine in August 2021. Samples were collected at random in August 2021 (n = 571) from eight districts in the West Bank, Palestine. All samples were confirmed as positive for COVID-19 by RT-PCR. The samples passed the quality control test and were successfully sequenced using the ARTIC protocol. The Delta Variant was revealed to have four dominant lineages: B.1.617 (19%), AY.122 (18%), AY.106 (17%), and AY.121 (13%). The study revealed eight significant purely spatial clusters (p < 0.005) distributed in the northern and southern parts of Palestine. Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes (n = 552) showed no geographically specific clades. The haplotype network revealed three haplogroups without any geographic distribution. Chronologically, the Delta Variant peak in Palestine was shortly preceded by the one in the neighboring Israeli community and shortly followed by the peak in Jordan. In addition, the study revealed an extremely intense transmission network of the Delta Variant circulating between the Palestinian districts as hubs (SHR ≈ 0.5), with Al-Khalil, the district with the highest prevalence of COVID-19, witnessing the highest frequency of transitions. Genetic diversity analysis indicated closely related haplogroups, as haplotype diversity (Hd) is high but has low nucleotide diversity (π). However, nucleotide diversity (π) in Palestine is still higher than the global figures. Neutrality tests were significantly (p < 0.05) low, including Tajima's D, Fu-Li's F, and Fu-Li's D, suggesting one or more of the following: population expansion, selective sweep, and natural negative selection. Wright's F-statistic (Fst) showed genetic differentiation (Fst > 0.25) with low to medium gene flow (Nm). Recombination events were minimal between clusters (Rm) and between adjacent sites (Rs). The study confirms the utility of the whole genome sequence as a surveillance system to track the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants for any possible geographical association and the use of genetic variation analysis and haplotype networking to delineate any minimal change or slight deviation in the viral genome from a reference strain.

Development and characterization of a novel variant of long-acting bovine follicle-stimulating hormone (brscFSH).

Assisted reproduction is a key aspect of modern animal breeding, providing valuable assistance in improving breeding programs. In this field, the administration of exogenous hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), plays a crucial role in the induction of multiple ovulations. However, commercial FSH used in veterinary practice has been derived primarily from pituitary glands, obtained mostly from pigs for nearly four decades. Although these hormones have contributed significantly to the advancement of assisted reproductive techniques, they have certain limitations that warrant further improvements. These limitations include contamination with luteinizing hormone (LH), the potential risk of pathogen contamination, the potential to trigger an immune response in non-pig species, and the short half-life in circulation, requiring the implementation of complex 8-dose superovulation schedules. Our research team has developed and characterized a new variant of bovine follicle-stimulating hormone (bscrFSH) to address these limitations. The new hormone is produced recombinantly in CHO cell cultures, with a specific productivity of about 30 pg/cell/day. The bscrFSH can be purified to a high purity of 97 % using a single step of immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). N-glycan analysis of bscrFSH showed that approximately 74 % of the glycans corresponded to charged structures, including mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-sialylated glycans. Superovulation trials conducted in cattle revealed that bscrFSH, administered at a total dose of about 0.5 µg per kg of body weight, using a decrescent schedule of 4 doses with 24-h intervals, resulted in an average yield of 8-12 transferable embryos per animal. Further research is required; however, the preliminary findings indicate that bscrFSH, currently packaged under the provisional brand name of Cebitropin B, holds potential as a commercial product for assisted reproduction in ruminants.

Scalable neighbour search and alignment with uvaia.

Despite millions of SARS-CoV-2 genomes being sequenced and shared globally, manipulating such data sets is still challenging, especially selecting sequences for focused phylogenetic analysis. We present a novel method, uvaia, which is based on partial and exact sequence similarity for quickly extracting database sequences similar to query sequences of interest. Many SARS-CoV-2 phylogenetic analyses rely on very low numbers of ambiguous sites as a measure of quality since ambiguous sites do not contribute to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences. Uvaia overcomes this limitation by using measures of sequence similarity which consider partially ambiguous sites, allowing for more ambiguous sequences to be included in the analysis if needed. Such fine-grained definition of similarity allows not only for better phylogenetic analyses, but could also lead to improved classification and biogeographical inferences. Uvaia works natively with compressed files, can use multiple cores and efficiently utilises memory, being able to analyse large data sets on a standard desktop.

Exploring the Potential of Olfactory Receptor Circulating RNA Measurement for Preeclampsia Prediction and Its Linkage to Mild Gestational Hypothyroidism.

Gestational hypothyroidism may lead to preeclampsia development. However, this pathophysiological is unknown. We expect to find a shared mechanism by comparing hypothyroidism and preeclampsia. From our transcriptome data, we recognized olfactory receptors as that fingerprint. The reduction of taste and smell in hypothyroid patients has been known for a long time. Therefore, we decided to look to the olfactory receptors and aimed to identify genes capable of predicting preeclampsia (PEC). Methods: An Ion Proton Sequencer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) was used to construct the transcriptome databases. RStudio with packages Limma v.3.50.0, GEOquery v.2.62.2, and umap v.0.2.8.8 were used to analyze the differentially expressed genes in GSE149440 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The 7500 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) was used for RT-qPCR amplification of OR6X1 and OR4E2. Results: Our transcriptomic datasets analysis revealed 25.08% and 26.75% downregulated olfactory receptor (ORs) in mild nontreated gestational hypothyroidism (GHT) and PEC, respectively. In the GSE149440 GEO dataset, we found OR5H1, OR5T3, OR51A7, OR51B6, OR10J5, OR6C6, and OR2AG2 as predictors of early-onset PEC. We also evaluate two chosen biomarkers' responses to levothyroxine. The RT-qPCR demonstrated a difference in OR6X1 and OR4E2 expression between GHT and healthy pregnancy (p < 0.05). Those genes presented a negative correlation with TSH (r: -0.51, p < 0.05; and r: -0.44, p < 0.05), a strong positive correlation with each other (r: 0.89; p < 0.01) and the levothyroxine-treated group had no difference from the healthy one. We conclude that ORs could be used as biomarkers at the beginning of gestation, and the downregulated ORs found in GHT may be improved with levothyroxine treatment.

Kinins: Locally formed peptides during inflammation with potential use in tissue regeneration.

Kinins are a set of peptides present in tissues and involved in cardiovascular regulation, inflammation, and pain. Here, we briefly comment on recent key findings on the use of kinins in regenerative medicine.

Disruptive 3D in vitro models for respiratory disease investigation: A state-of-the-art approach focused on SARS-CoV-2 infection.

COVID-19, along with most respiratory diseases in the medical field, demonstrates significant ability to take its toll on global population. There is a particular difficulty in studying these conditions, which stems especially from the short supply of in vitro models for detailed investigation, the specific therapeutic knowledge required for disease scrutinization and the occasional need of BSL-3 [Biosafety Level 3] laboratories for research. Based on this, the process of drug development is hampered to a great extent. In the scenario of COVID-19, this difficulty is even more substantial on account of the current undefinition regarding the exact role of the ACE2 [Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2] receptor upon SARS-CoV-2 kinetics in human cells and the great level of demand in the investigation process of ACE2, which usually requires the laborious and ethically complicated usage of transgenic animal models overexpressing the receptor. Moreover, the rapid progression of the aforementioned diseases, especially COVID-19, poses a crucial necessity for adequate therapeutic solutions emergence. In this context, the work herein presented introduces a groundbreaking set of 3D models, namely spheroids and MatriWell cell culture inserts, whose remarkable ability to mimic the in vivo environment makes them highly suitable for respiratory diseases investigation, particularly SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using MatriWells, we developed an innovative platform for COVID-19 research: a pulmonary air-liquid interface [ALI] associated with endothelial (HUVEC) cells. Infection studies revealed that pulmonary (BEAS-2B) cells in the ALI reached peak viral load at 24h and endothelial cells, at 48h, demonstrating lung viral replication and subsequent hematogenous dissemination, which provides us with a unique and realistic framework for studying COVID-19. Simultaneously, the spheroids were used to address the understudied ACE2 receptor, aiming at a pronounced process of COVID-19 investigation. ACE2 expression not only increased spheroid diameter by 20% (p<0.001) and volume by 60% (p≤0.0001) but also led to a remarkable 640-fold increase in intracellular viral load (p≤0.01). The previously mentioned finding supports ACE2 as a potential target for COVID-19 treatment. Lastly, we observed a higher viral load in the MatriWells compared to spheroids (150-fold, p<0.0001), suggesting the MatriWells as a more appropriate approach for COVID-19 investigation. By establishing an advanced method for respiratory tract conditions research, this work paves the way toward an efficacious process of drug development, contributing to a change in the course of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19.

Kinin receptors regulate skeletal muscle regeneration: differential effects for B1 and B2 receptors.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: After traumatic skeletal muscle injury, muscle healing is often incomplete and produces extensive fibrosis. Bradykinin (BK) reduces fibrosis in renal and cardiac damage models through the B2 receptor. The B1 receptor expression is induced by damage, and blocking of the kallikrein-kinin system seems to affect the progression of muscular dystrophy. We hypothesized that both kinin B1 and B2 receptors could play a differential role after traumatic muscle injury, and the lack of the B1 receptor could produce more cellular and molecular substrates for myogenesis and fewer substrates for fibrosis, leading to better muscle healing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To test this hypothesis, tibialis anterior muscles of kinin receptor knockout animals were subjected to traumatic injury. Myogenesis, angiogenesis, fibrosis, and muscle functioning were evaluated. RESULTS: Injured B1KO mice showed a faster healing progression of the injured area with a larger amount of central nucleated fiber post-injury when compared to control mice. In addition, they exhibited higher neovasculogenic capacity, maintaining optimal tissue perfusion for the post-injury phase; had higher amounts of myogenic markers with less inflammatory infiltrate and tissue destruction. This was followed by higher amounts of SMAD7 and lower amounts of p-SMAD2/3, which resulted in less fibrosis. In contrast, B2KO and B1B2KO mice showed more severe tissue destruction and excessive fibrosis. B1KO animals had better results in post-injury functional tests compared to control animals. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that injured skeletal muscle tissues have a better repair capacity with less fibrosis in the presence of B2 receptor and absence of B1 receptor, including better performances in functional tests.

Ganhos e Perdas na Aposentadoria e a Intenção de Empreender de Servidores do Judiciário / Gains and Losses on Retirement and Entrepreneurial Intention on Labor Court Civil Servants / Ganancias y Pérdidas en Jubilación e Intención Empresarial en Servidores del Poder Judicial del Trabajo

Este estudo objetivou identificar possíveis efeitos das atitudes em relação à aposentadoria e intenção de empreender. Participaram da pesquisa 162 servidores públicos do judiciário trabalhista, que responderem a um questionário on-line autoaplicável com escalas sobre intenção de empreender, perdas e ganhos na aposentadoria e potencial empreendedor. Um modelo de regressão múltipla hierárquica stepwise foi proposto para seleção do modelo inicial. Testes de mediação foram utilizados para testar as seguintes hipóteses: H1 - os ganhos percebidos frente a um novo começo na aposentadoria exerceriam influência positiva na intenção empreendedora; H2 - as perdas percebidas quanto aos aspectos tangíveis do trabalho exerceriam influência positiva na intenção empreendedora; H3 - Maiores níveis de oportunidade para empreender predizem maiores níveis de intenção empreendedora; e H4 - a oportunidade para empreender funcionaria como variável mediadora entre os ganhos percebidos de um novo começo e as perdas percebidas dos aspectos tangíveis do trabalho em relação ao desfecho da intenção empreendedora. Os resultados estatísticos foram satisfatórios para a amostra, corroborando as quatro hipóteses mencionadas. As atitudes positivas ou negativas sobre a aposentadoria possuem efeito sobre a intenção de empreender, sendo a oportunidade para empreender um mecanismo importante para este efeito.

This study aimed to identify possible effects of attitudes concerning to retirement and the willing to undertake. There were 162 civil servants of the labor court offices who answered a self-administered online survey with scales about the willing to undertake, losses and gains in retirement, and entrepreneurial potential. A stepwise hierarchical multiple regression model was proposed for the first model selection. Mediation tests were used to validate the following hypotheses: H1 - Perceived gains from a new start in retirement would make a positive influence on entrepreneurial intention; H2 - the perceived losses regarding to the concrete aspects of the work would make a positive influence on the entrepreneurial intention; H3 - Higher levels of opportunity for entrepreneurship predict higher levels of entrepreneurial intention and H4 - the opportunity to undertake would work as a mediating variable between the perceived gains of a new beginning and the perceived losses concerning to the concrete aspects of the work in relation to the entrepreneurial intention outcome. Statistical results were satisfactory for the sample, and therefore it validates the four hypotheses mentioned above. Positive or negative attitudes about retirement influence the intention to entrepreneur. The opportunity for entrepreneurship plays an important role to realize it.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar los posibles efectos de las actitudes hacia la jubilación y la intención de emprender. En la encuesta participaron un total de 162 funcionarios de la justicia laboral, quienes respondieron un cuestionario autoadministrado en línea con baremos sobre intención de emprender, pérdidas y ganancias en la jubilación y potencial emprendedor. Se propuso un modelo de regresión múltiple jerárquico por pasos para la selección del modelo inicial. Se utilizaron pruebas de mediación para probar las siguientes hipótesis: H1: las ganancias percibidas de un nuevo comienzo en la jubilación ejercerían una influencia positiva en la intención empresarial; H2 - las pérdidas percibidas respecto a los aspectos tangibles del trabajo ejercerían una influencia positiva en la intención emprendedora; H3 - Mayores niveles de oportunidad para emprender predicen mayores niveles de intención emprendedora y H4 - la oportunidad de emprender funcionaría como variable mediadora entre las ganancias percibidas de un nuevo comienzo, las pérdidas percibidas de los aspectos tangibles del trabajo en relación con el resultado de la intención emprendedora. Los resultados estadísticos fueron satisfactorios para la muestra, corroborando las cuatro hipótesis mencionadas. Las actitudes positivas o negativas sobre la jubilación tienen un efecto sobre la intención de emprender, siendo la oportunidad de emprender un mecanismo importante para este efecto.

Repurposing an integrated national influenza platform for genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Ghana: a molecular epidemiological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and guiding public health decisions, but the capacity for SARS-CoV-2 testing and sequencing in Africa is low. We integrated SARS-CoV-2 surveillance into an existing influenza surveillance network with the aim of providing insights into SARS-CoV-2 transmission and genomics in Ghana. METHODS: In this molecular epidemiological analysis, which is part of a wider multifaceted prospective observational study, we collected national SARS-CoV-2 test data from 35 sites across 16 regions in Ghana from Sept 1, 2020, to Nov 30, 2021, via the Ghanaian integrated influenza and SARS-CoV-2 surveillance network. SARS-CoV-2-positive samples collected through this integrated national influenza surveillance network and from international travellers arriving in Accra were sequenced with Oxford Nanopore Technology sequencing and the ARTIC tiled amplicon method. The sequence lineages were typed with pangolin and the phylogenetic analysis was conducted with IQ-Tree2 and TreeTime. FINDINGS: During the study period, 5495 samples were submitted for diagnostic testing through the national influenza surveillance network (2121 [46·1%] of 4021 samples with complete demographic data were from female individuals and 2479 [53·9%] of 4021 samples were from male individuals). We also obtained 2289 samples from travellers who arrived in Accra and had a positive lateral flow test, of whom 1626 (71·0%, 95% CI 69·1-72·9) were confirmed to be SARS-CoV-2 positive. Co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in Ghana was detected, with increased cases of influenza in November, 2020, November, 2021, and January and June, 2021. In 4124 samples from individuals with influenza-like illness, SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 583 (14·1%, 95% CI 13·1-15·2) samples and influenza in 356 (8·6%, 7·8-9·5). Conversely, in 476 samples from individuals with of severe acute respiratory illness, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 58 (12·2%, 9·5-15·5) samples and influenza in 95 (19·9%, 16·5-23·9). We detected four waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Ghana; each wave was driven by a different variant: B.1 and B.1.1 were the most prevalent lineages in wave 1, alpha (B.1.1.7) was responsible for wave 2, delta (B.1.617.2) and its sublineages (closely related to delta genomes from India) were responsible for wave 3, and omicron variants were responsible for wave 4. We detected omicron variants among 47 (32%) of 145 samples from travellers during the start of the omicron spread in Ghana (wave 4). INTERPRETATION: This study shows the value of repurposing existing influenza surveillance platforms to monitor SARS-CoV-2. Influenza continued to circulate in Ghana in 2020 and 2021, and remained a major cause of severe acute respiratory illness. We detected importations of SARS-CoV-2 variants into Ghana, including those that did or did not lead to onward community transmission. Investment in strengthening national influenza surveillance platforms in low-income and middle-income countries has potential for ongoing monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemics. FUNDING: The EDCTP2 programme supported by the EU.

Similar hypothyroid and sepsis circulating mRNA expression could be useful as a biomarker in onthyroidal illness syndrome: a pilot study.

Objective: Based on hypothetical hypothyroidism and nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) gene expression similarities, we decided to compare the patterns of expression of both as models of NTIS. The concordant profile between them may enlighten new biomarkers for NTIS challenging scenarios. Materials and methods: We used Ion Proton System next-generation sequencing to build the hypothyroidism transcriptome. We selected two databanks in GEO2 platform datasets to find the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in adults and children with sepsis. The ROC curve was constructed to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). The AUC, chi-square, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, kappa and likelihood were calculated. We performed Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses for the survival analysis. Results: Concerning hypothyroidism DEGs, 70.42% were shared with sepsis survivors and 61.94% with sepsis nonsurvivors. Some of them were mitochondrial gene types (mitGenes), and 95 and 88 were related to sepsis survivors and nonsurvivors, respectively. BLOC1S1, ROMO1, SLIRP and TIMM8B mitGenes showed the capability to distinguish sepsis survivors and nonsurvivors. Conclusion: We matched our hypothyroidism DEGs with those in adults and children with sepsis. Additionally, we observed different patterns of hypothyroid-related genes among sepsis survivors and nonsurvivors. Finally, we demonstrated that ROMO1, SLIRP and TIMM8B could be predictive biomarkers in children´s sepsis.

Religious and secular spirituality: Methodological implications of definitions for health research.

The importance of spirituality as a research topic has been increasingly recognized, which has led to several studies on the topic. Areas including psychology, medicine, and nursing have produced studies on spirituality under a plurality of definitions and methods, which reveals the complexity of the theme. However, this has resulted in a range of potential problems, including: (1) the use of overlapping and contradictory terms between studies, or even within the same study, (2) research methodologies that do not fit the definitions (sometimes unreflectively) assumed by the authors, (3) difficulties, or even the impossibility, of comparing the results of studies, (4) controversies in respect of the inclusion/exclusion of secular groups in research on spirituality, and (5) ambiguous measurements, often being exclusively dependent on each participant's individual interpretation of what spirituality means. This article discusses these problems, recommends theoretical and methodological alternatives and presents taxonomy of definitions of spirituality.

Freeze-dried Platelet-rich Plasma and Stem Cell-conditioned Medium for Therapeutic Use in Horses.

This study investigated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and adipose stem cell-conditioned medium (ASC-CM) use as a strategy to accelerate tissue healing. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were quantified in fresh and freeze-dried PRP and ASC-CM, and a stability test was performed in the freeze-dried samples (90 and 180 days of storage). A cell proliferation test was performed using equine mesenchymal stem cell culture in reconstituted PRP gel mesh after freeze-drying. In vivo PRP, ASC-CM applications, or their association were performed in induced wounds at 15 and 9-day intervals, according to the treatments: saline solution (control), PRP, ASC-CM, or ASC-CM + PRP. Horses were monitored through photographs and wound area measurements on days 5, 7, 15, and 24 after lesion induction. Skin biopsies were obtained on days 15 and 24 of the experiment. PDGF and VEGF quantification did not differ between fresh or freeze-dried treatments, was similar after freeze-drying or 90 days of storage, but showed a significant reduction after 180 days of storage. Comparing all treatments, no differences were observed in the histopathological analyses. For inflammation, fibroplasia, and collagen formation, only the time effect between the first and second biopsies was significant. The cell proliferation test revealed intense multiplication in the PRP gel mesh. Healing time was similar among all treatments. In conclusion, our results showed the possibility to produce and maintain freeze-dried PRP and ASC-CM for 90 days. Further studies are needed to better explore the in vivo therapeutic PRP and ASC-CM effects.

A Systematic Review on Alcohol Consumption among Non-Religious and Religious Adults.

Background: Research has suggested that religiosity is a protective factor in alcohol use, but this is an area that could be further explored. Objective: To undertake a systematic review of the literature on drinking patterns and their relationship with religiosity and non-religiosity in adult populations. Methods: We searched for relevant studies using the PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, and Psych-INFO databases. This review included only studies of people aged 18 and over which had a non-religious group as a comparison measure. Results: Fifty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. The present review showed that religious people tend to have lower alcohol consumption compared to those with no religion. However, this difference appears only when religions are analyzed together without differentiating between religious affiliations (Catholicism, Buddhism, Evangelicalism, etc.). Some religious affiliations, such as Buddhism, Catholicism and Lutheranism, appear to be risk factors for alcohol consumption. Definitions of risk consumption showed high heterogeneity, ranging from eight to 21 or more doses per week, a difference of 13 doses of alcohol between studies. Conclusions: The present review showed that religious people tend to have lower alcohol consumption compared to non-religious people. However, the results are contradictory when religious affiliations are analyzed separately and compared with non-religious participants. Adequately understanding which dimensions of religiosity and non-religiosity (e.g., group processes, engagement, meaning, rules of behavior) are protective in adulthood is fundamental to the construction of more effective interventions in this age group.

Similar hypothyroid and sepsis circulating mRNA expression could be useful as a biomarker in nonthyroidal illness syndrome: a pilot study

ABSTRACT Objective: Based on hypothetical hypothyroidism and nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) gene expression similarities, we decided to compare the patterns of expression of both as models of NTIS. The concordant profile between them may enlighten new biomarkers for NTIS challenging scenarios. Materials and methods: We used Ion Proton System next-generation sequencing to build the hypothyroidism transcriptome. We selected two databanks in GEO2 platform datasets to find the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in adults and children with sepsis. The ROC curve was constructed to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). The AUC, chi-square, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, kappa and likelihood were calculated. We performed Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses for the survival analysis. Results: Concerning hypothyroidism DEGs, 70.42% were shared with sepsis survivors and 61.94% with sepsis nonsurvivors. Some of them were mitochondrial gene types (mitGenes), and 95 and 88 were related to sepsis survivors and nonsurvivors, respectively. BLOC1S1, ROMO1, SLIRP and TIMM8B mitGenes showed the capability to distinguish sepsis survivors and nonsurvivors. Conclusion: We matched our hypothyroidism DEGs with those in adults and children with sepsis. Additionally, we observed different patterns of hypothyroid-related genes among sepsis survivors and nonsurvivors. Finally, we demonstrated that ROMO1, SLIRP and TIMM8B could be predictive biomarkers in children's sepsis.

Estigma de cortesia e condições de saúde: revisão sistemática de literatura / Estigma de cortesía y condiciones de salud: revisión sistemática de la literatura / Courtesy stigma and health conditions: systematic literature review

RESUMO A literatura científica aponta consistentemente que grupos historicamente alvos de estigma social experimentam efeitos deletérios, em diversas esferas da vida. A despeito da sua gravidade e pervasividade, ainda existem lacunas na investigação do tema, tais como aquela voltada para o Estigma de Cortesia, que é vivenciado por pessoas que possuem vínculos afetivos ou profissionais com o indivíduo estigmatizado. O presente artigo teve como objetivo apresentar o estado da arte sobre estigma de cortesia, por meio de uma revisão sistemática de estudos empíricos originais publicados em periódicos revisados por pares e indexados nas principais bases relacionadas ao campo de investigação (PsycNET (APA), Pubmed, Bvs Brasil, Periódicos CAPES, SciELO e Pepsic). Como palavras-chave, para a busca dos resumos, utilizou-se: estigma de cortesia, estigma de afiliação e estigma de associação. Ao todo, 94 textos completos atenderam aos critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Os estudos apontaram que o estigma de cortesia tem sido investigado predominantemente entre familiares de pessoas que possuem algum tipo de problema relacionado com sua saúde mental, além de pais de crianças com algum tipo de deficiência.

RESUMEN La literatura científica señala constantemente que los grupos históricamente afectados por el estigma social experimentan efectos nocivos en diferentes ámbitos de la vida. A pesar de su gravedad y omnipresencia, todavía hay vacíos en la investigación del tema, como el centrado en el estigma de cortesía, que experimentan las personas que tienen vínculos afectivos o profesionales con el individuo estigmatizado. Este artículo tuvo como objetivo presentar el estado del arte sobre el estigma de cortesía a través de una revisión sistemática de estudios empíricos originales publicados en revistas revisadas por pares e indexados en las principales bases de datos relacionadas con el campo de investigación (PsycNET (APA), Pubmed, Bvs Brasil, CAPES, SciELO y revistas Pepsic). Como palabras clave para la búsqueda de resúmenes, utilizamos: estigma de cortesía, estigma de afiliación y estigma de asociación. En total, 94 textos completos cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Los estudios han demostrado que el estigma de cortesía se ha investigado principalmente entre miembros de la familia de personas que tienen algún tipo de problema relacionado con su salud mental, además de los padres de niños con algún tipo de discapacidad.

ABSTRACT The scientific literature consistently points out that groups historically targeted by social stigma experience deleterious effects in different spheres of life. Despite its gravity and pervasiveness, there are still gaps in the investigation of the topic, such as that focused on the Courtesy Stigma, which is experienced by people who have affective or professional ties with the stigmatized individual. This article aimed to present the state of the art on Courtesy Stigma through a systematic review of original empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals and indexed in the main databases related to the research field (PsycNET (APA), Pubmed, Bvs Brasil, CAPES, SciELO, and Pepsic journals). As keywords for the search for abstracts, we used: courtesy stigma, affiliate stigma and associative stigma. Altogether, 94 complete texts met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies have shown that the Courtesy Stigma has been investigated predominantly among family members of people who have some type of problem related to their mental health, in addition to parents of children with some type of disability.

Sectioning of the Filum Terminale in Patients with Chiari Malformation Type 1 Associated with Occult Tethered Cord Syndrome: Literature Review / Secção do filum terminale em pacientes com malformação de chiari tipo 1 associado a síndrome oculta da medula presa: revisão de literatura

Approximately 125 years ago, a group of pathologies now known as Chiari malformations was described for the first time. However, some mechanisms of its formation still remain unknown. A bibliographic survey was performed through a search in PubMed. In 1938, it was already theorized that an increase in spinal cord tension could be the cause of Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) tonsillar herniation. In 1953, a condition known for the anchoring of the filum terminale to the vertebral canal was described for the first time and would later be known as tethered cord syndrome (TCS). Some studies have shown that it is associated with increased tension in the spinal cord, and this formed the basis for a possible pathophysiological explanation of tonsillar herniation. Case series emerged reporting that treatment for TCS with the sectioning of the filum terminale (SFT) could provide clinical improvement of patients with CM1. A new pathological entity emerged when it was realized that patients with the clinical picture of TCS could have the medullary cone in its normal position, differing from the caudal migration expected for the TCS. This condition became known as occult tethered cord syndrome (OTCS). Case series attempted to demonstrate its association with the origin of CM1, a non-intuitive association, since the cone in the normal position contradicts traction as a source of tonsillar herniation. To this day, the absence of randomized control trials limits any conclusions regarding the effectiveness of SFT for the treatment of patients with CM1.

Há cerca de 125 anos, era descrita pela primeira vez um grupo de patologias hoje conhecidas como malformações de Chiari. No entanto, alguns mecanismos de sua formação ainda permanecem desconhecidos. Um levantamento bibliográfico foi feito através do PubMed. Em 1938, já se teorizava que um aumento da tensão medular poderia ser a causa da herniação tonsilar da malformação de Chiari tipo 1 (MC1). Em 1953, foi descrita pela primeira vez uma condição conhecida pelo ancoramento do filum terminale ao canal vertebral e que mais tarde viria a ser conhecida como síndrome da medula presa (SMP). Alguns estudos demonstraram que ela estava associada à tensão aumentada na medula espinhal, e a partir disso estava formada a base para uma possível explicação fisiopatológica da herniação tonsilar. Séries de casos surgiram relatando que o tratamento para a SMP com a secção do filum terminale poderia proporcionar melhora clínica aos pacientes com MC1. Uma nova entidade patológica surgiu quando se percebeu que pacientes com o quadro clínico de SMP poderiam ter o cone medular em sua posição normal, diferente da migração caudal esperada para a SMP. Essa condição ficou conhecida como SMP oculta. Séries de casos tentaram demonstrar sua associação com a origem da MC1, uma associação nada intuitiva, visto que o cone na posição normal contradiz a tração como fonte da herniação tonsilar. A ausência de ensaios randomizados controlados até o dia de hoje não permite concluir a eficácia do método de secção do filum no tratamento de pacientes com MC1.

Vulnerabilidade ao HIV entre usuários de CAPSad: crenças e comportamentos em saúde / HIV vulnerability among CAPSad users: relationship between beliefs and health behaviors / Vulnerabilidad al VIH entre usuarios de CAPSad: creencias y comportamientos en salud

O abuso de álcool e outras drogas é uma importante questão de saúde mental para a população adulta e adolescente. Entre os eventos associados a esse abuso, encontra-se elevada vulnerabilidade ao HIV. O presente estudo buscou avaliar, em usuários de substâncias, a relação entre: gravidade percebida do HIV, autoeficácia para uso de preservativo e vulnerabilidade ao HIV. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, quanti-qualitativo, com usuários de um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial para Álcool e Outras Drogas (CAPSad) no Brasil. Os resultados indicam não haver associação significativa entre gravidade percebida do HIV e vulnerabilidade ao HIV (ρ de Spearman de -0,109 e valor-p de 0,507). Contudo, foi identifi-cada uma associação negativa marginalmente significativa entre autoeficácia para uso de preservativo e vulnerabilidade ao HIV (ρ de Spearman de -0,302 and valor-p de 0,061). Neste artigo, discutimos o estigma relacionado ao HIV/aids e realizamos uma crítica a intervenções baseadas no medo, recomen-dando contra seu uso. Em contrapartida, são propostas estratégias para o desenvolvimento da autoe-ficácia, de modo a fortalecer a autonomia dos usuários de CAPSad.

The abuse of alcohol and other drugs is an important mental health issue in the adult and adolescent population. Along with other concerns, substance use can be associated with a higher vulnerability to HIV infection. This study aimed to assess the relationship between three variables in substance users: HIV perceived severity, condom use self-efficacy, and HIV vulnerability. This was a cross-sectional, quanti-qualitative study on outpatients from a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAPSad) in Brazil. Our findings indicate no significant association between HIV perceived severity and HIV vulnerability (Spearman's ρ of -0.109 and p-value of 0.507), and a marginally significant negative association between condom use self-efficacy and HIV vulnerability (Spearman's ρ of -0.302 and p-value of 0.061). In this paper, we discuss the stigma related to HIV/aids and criticize fear-based preventive interventions, recommending against them. On the other hand, we propose strategies for self-efficacy development, aiming to strengthen the autonomy of CAPSad users.

El abuso de alcohol y otras drogas es un importante problema de salud mental para la población adulta y adolescente. Entre los eventos de salud a ele asociados, se encuentra elevada vulnerabilidad a infección por VIH. El estudio buscó evaluar la relación entre: gravedad percibida del VIH, autoeficacia para el uso del condón y vulnerabilidad a el VIH. Este es un estudio transversal, cuanti-cualitative, con usuarios de un Centro de Atención Psicosocial para el Alcohol y Otras Drogas (CAPSad) en Brasil. Los hallazgos indican ausencia de asociación entre gravedad percibida del VIH y vulnerabilidad a el VIH (ρ de Spearman de -0,109 y valor-p de 0,507); y una asociación negativa marginalmente significativa entre esta última variable y autoeficacia para el uso de condón (ρ de Spearman de -0,302 y valor-p de 0,061). En este trabajo discutimos el estigma relacionado con el VIH/sida y criticamos las intervenciones basadas en el miedo, recomendando contra su uso. Por otro lado, se proponen estrategias para el desarrollo de la autoeficacia, con el fin de fortalecer la autonomía de los usuarios del CAPSad.