Recombinant proteins as promising antigens applied to the immunodiagnosis of Chagas disease: a scoping review.

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important public health problem, occurring mainly in Latin America. The disease has a major social and economical effect, negatively impacting the life of the infected individuals, and bringing great costs to public health. An early and accurate diagnosis is essential for administration of early treatment. In addition, prognostic tests may aid disease management, decreasing hospitalization costs. However, the serological diagnostic scenario for CD still faces several challenges, making the development of new diagnostic kits a pressing matter. Facing this scenario, several researchers have expanded efforts in developing and testing new antigens, such as recombinant proteins and recombinant multiepitope proteins, with promising results. These recombinant antigens offer several advantages, such as improved sensitivity and specificity, in addition to facilitated scaling. Also, it has been possible to observe a rising number of studies using ELISA and point-of-care platforms, employing these antigens in the past few years. Among them, recombinant proteins were the most applied antigens, demonstrating great capacity to discriminate between positive and negative samples. Although fewer in number, recombinant multiepitope proteins also demonstrated an improved diagnostic performance. Indeed, a great number of studies employing these antigens showed sensitivity and specificity values above 90%, greatly impacting diagnostic accuracy. Nevertheless, despite the good results found, it is still possible to observe some bottlenecks in the development of new antigens, such as the scarcity of tests with sera from the acute phase and the variability of results in different geographic areas. In this sense, aiming to contribute to control and health programs, the continuous search for a more accurate serological diagnosis is essential, both for the acute and chronic phases of the disease.

Association between perinatal and obstetric factors and early age at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between perinatal and obstetric factors as potential triggers for the early onset of T1DM. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study enrolling 409 patients diagnosed with T1DM, in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, from 1981 to 2023. Data were retrieved from medical records, regarding sociodemographic parameters as age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Perinatal and obstetric factors as delivery type, gestational age, filiation order, length of exclusive breastfeeding, maternal age, maternal and fetal blood types, and occurrence of maternal gestational diabetes were also analyzed. An adapted survival analysis was employed to gauge the impact of each assessed variable at the age of T1DM diagnosis. RESULTS: The median age of T1DM diagnosis was 10.3 years with an interquartile range between 6.4 and 15.5 years. Delivery type and filiation order were the only factors statistically significantly associated with an early age at T1DM diagnosis. Patients who were born through cesarean section and who were firstborns showed a 28.6 and 18.0 % lower age at T1DM diagnosis, respectively, compared to those born through vaginal delivery and those that were nonfirstborns. CONCLUSIONS: Being born by cesarean section and being firstborn showed to be statistically significant factors to determine an early T1DM diagnosis.

Recombinant multiepitope proteins expressed in Escherichia coli cells and their potential for immunodiagnosis.

Recombinant multiepitope proteins (RMPs) are a promising alternative for application in diagnostic tests and, given their wide application in the most diverse diseases, this review article aims to survey the use of these antigens for diagnosis, as well as discuss the main points surrounding these antigens. RMPs usually consisting of linear, immunodominant, and phylogenetically conserved epitopes, has been applied in the experimental diagnosis of various human and animal diseases, such as leishmaniasis, brucellosis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, hepatitis, leptospirosis, leprosy, filariasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, and COVID-19. The synthetic genes for these epitopes are joined to code a single RMP, either with spacers or fused, with different biochemical properties. The epitopes' high density within the RMPs contributes to a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. The RMPs can also sidestep the need for multiple peptide synthesis or multiple recombinant proteins, reducing costs and enhancing the standardization conditions for immunoassays. Methods such as bioinformatics and circular dichroism have been widely applied in the development of new RMPs, helping to guide their construction and better understand their structure. Several RMPs have been expressed, mainly using the Escherichia coli expression system, highlighting the importance of these cells in the biotechnological field. In fact, technological advances in this area, offering a wide range of different strains to be used, make these cells the most widely used expression platform. RMPs have been experimentally used to diagnose a broad range of illnesses in the laboratory, suggesting they could also be useful for accurate diagnoses commercially. On this point, the RMP method offers a tempting substitute for the production of promising antigens used to assemble commercial diagnostic kits.

The use of peptides for immunodiagnosis of human Chagas disease.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, continues to be a serious public health problem in Latin America, worsened by the limitations in its detection. Given the importance of developing new diagnostic methods for this disease, the present review aimed to verify the number of publications dedicated to research on peptides that demonstrate their usefulness in serodiagnosis. To this end, a bibliographic survey was conducted on the PubMed platform using the keyword "peptide" or "epitope" combined with "Chagas disease" or "Trypanosoma cruzi"; "diagno*" or "serodiagnosis" or "immunodiagnosis", without period restriction. An increasing number of publications on studies employing peptides in ELISA and rapid tests assays was verified, which confirms the expansion of research in this field. It is possible to observe that many of the peptides tested so far originate from proteins widely used in the diagnosis of Chagas, and many of them are part of commercial tests developed. In this sense, as expected, promising results were obtained for several peptides when tested in ELISA, as many of them exhibited sensitivity and specificity values above 90%. Furthermore, some peptides have been tested in several studies, confirming their diagnostic potential. Despite the promising results observed, it is possible to emphasize the need for extensive testing of peptides, using different serological panels, in order to confirm their potential. The importance of producing an effective assay capable of detecting the clinical stages of the disease, as well as new immunogenic antigens that enable new serological diagnostic tools for Chagas disease, is evident.

Genetic Variations in Susceptibility to Traumatic Muscle Injuries and Muscle Pain among Brazilian High-Performance Athletes.

Traumatic muscle injuries (TMIs) and muscle pain (MP) negatively impact athletes' performance and quality of life. Both conditions have a complex pathophysiology involving the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Yet, the existing data are scarce and controversial. To provide more insights, this study aimed to investigate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously linked to athletic status with TMI and MP after exercise among Brazilian high-performance athletes from different sports modalities (N = 345). The impact of important environmental determinants was also assessed. From the six evaluated SNPs (ACTN3 rs1815739, FAAH rs324420, PPARGC1A rs8192678, ADRB2 rs1042713, NOS3 rs1799983, and VDR rs731236), none was significantly associated with TMI. Regarding MP after exercise, ACTN3 rs1815739 (CC/CT vs. TT; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.90; 95% confidence interval (95%Cl), 1.01-3.57) and FAAH rs324420 (AA vs. AC/CC; aOR = 2.30; 95%Cl, 1.08-4.91) were independent predictors according to multivariate binomial analyses adjusted for age (≥23 vs. <23 years), sex (male vs. female), and tobacco consumption (yes vs. no). External validation is warranted to assess the predictive value of ACTN3 rs1815739 and FAAH rs324420. This could have implications for prophylactic interventions to improve athletes' quality of life.

A Review on the use of Synthetic and Recombinant Antigens for the Immunodiagnosis of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis.

Improving the diagnostic technology used to detect tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is essential in view of it being a widespread, often neglected tropical disease with cases reported from the southern United States to northern Argentina. Recombinant proteins, recombinant multiepitope proteins, and synthetic peptides have been extensively researched and used in disease diagnosis. One of the benefits of applying these antigens is a measurable increase in sensitivity and specificity, which improves test accuracy. The present review aims to describe the antigens and their diagnostic effectiveness. With that in mind, a bibliographic survey was conducted on the PudMed platform using the search terms "tegumentary leishmaniasis" AND "diagno", revealing that recombinant proteins have been described and evaluated for their value in TL diagnosis since the 1990s. However, there was a spike in the number of publications using all of the antigens between 2013 and 2022, confirming an expansion in research efforts to improve diagnosis. Moreover, all of the studies involving different antigens had promising results, including improved sensitivity and specificity. These data recognize the importance of doing research with new technologies focused on developing quick, more effective diagnostic kits as early diagnosis facilitates treatment.

Novel tetrapolar single-needle electrode for electrochemotherapy in bone cavities: Modeling, design and validation.

Electrochemotherapy is a cancer treatment in which local pulsed electric fields are delivered through electrodes. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on exposing the tumor to a threshold electric field. Electrode geometry plays an important role in the resulting electric field distribution, especially in hard-to-reach areas and deep-seated tumors. We designed and developed a novel tetrapolar single-needle electrode for proper treatment in bone cavities. In silico and in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the electric field and electric current produced by the electrode. In addition, tomography images of a real case of nasal cavity tumor were segmented into a 3D simulation to evaluate the electrode performance in a bone cavity. The proposed electrode was validated and its operating range was set up to 650 V. In the nasal cavity tumor, we found that the electrode can produce a circular electric field of 3 mm with an electric current of 14.1 A at 500 V, which is compatible with electrochemotherapy standards and commercial equipment.

Pharmacological Manipulation of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptors in the Anterior and Posterior Subregions of the Insular Cortex Differently Affects Anxiety-Like Behaviors in the Elevated Plus Maze in Rats.

Neuroimaging data in humans and neurobiological studies in rodents have suggested an involvement of the insular cortex (IC) in anxiety manifestations. However, the local neurochemical mechanisms involved are still poorly understood. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurotransmission has been described as a prominent neurochemical mechanism involved in the expression of anxiety-like behaviors, but the brain sites related are poorly understood. Additionally, several findings indicate that control of physiological and behavioral responses by the IC occurs in a site-specific manner along its rostrocaudal axis. Thus, this study is aimed at evaluating the effect of CRF receptor agonism and antagonism within the anterior and posterior subregions of the IC in controlling anxiety-related behaviors in the elevated plus maze (EPM). For this, independent groups (six groups) of animals received bilateral microinjections of vehicle, the selective CRF1 receptor antagonist CP376395, or CRF into either the anterior or posterior subregions of the IC. Ten minutes later, the behavior in the EPM was evaluated for five minutes. Treatment of the anterior IC with CP376395, but not with CRF, increased the time and number of entries into the open arms of the EPM. CRF, but not the CRF1 receptor antagonist, microinjected into the posterior IC also increased exploration of the EPM open arms. Taken together, these data indicate that CRFergic neurotransmission in the anterior IC is involved in the expression of anxiety-related behaviors in the EPM. This neurochemical mechanism does not seem to be activated within the posterior IC during exposure to the EPM, but the effects caused by CRF microinjection indicate that activation of CRF receptors in this IC subregion might evoke anxiolytic-like effects.

Underreporting of diabetes mellitus as the cause of death in Bauru, State of São Paulo, Brazil over 40 years: a documental study

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate, characterize and search for trends in the underreporting of diabetes mellitus (DM) as the cause of death in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, over 40 years. Subjects and methods This was a documental study. Clinical and mortality data were collected from individuals known to have type 1 (DM1) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), residing in Bauru, State of São Paulo, followed at a local endocrinology clinic from 1982 to 2021, who deceased during this period. Results A significant underreporting of DM as the cause of death (64.41%) was found, mostly associated with male gender (OR = 1.59 [95% CI: 1.18; 2.15]; p < 0.01), DM2 (OR = 2.64 [95% CI: 1.32; 5.26]; p < 0.01), dying in the first decade of the study (OR = 4.07 [95% CI: 1.54; 10.71]; p < 0.001) and shorter DM duration (OR = 1.02 [95% CI: 1.01; 1.04]; p < 0.01). Age, type of treatment, body mass index, marital status and ethnicity, did not show a significant association with DM underreporting. There was a decreasing trend in DM1 underreporting (Decade Percentual Change = -7.10 [95% CI: -11.35; -3.40]), but a stationary trend for DM and DM2. The main primary cause of death was cardiovascular-related complications. Conclusion The underreporting of DM as the cause of death was very frequently found, and was associated with male gender, decade of death, shorter DM duration and DM2. If our data could be applied to the whole country, DM would possibly emerge as a more prominent cause of death in Brazil. Future studies in other cities and geographic regions are warranted to confirm our findings.

Metabolic syndrome: experiences in relation to healthcare / Síndrome metabólico: experiencias en relación con el cuidado de la salud / Síndrome metabólica: vivências em relação ao cuidado com a saúde

ABSTRACT Objective: to interpret the experiences of people with metabolic syndrome in relation to healthcare. Method: this is qualitative research using Grounded Theory as a method and Symbolic Interactionism as a framework for analysis. It was carried out at a Basic Health Unit in the city of Marília/SP, Brazil, with 24 interviews in three sample groups (patients, family members and healthcare professionals), from February 9, 2022 to January 16, 2023. Results: a total of 734 codes were identified and grouped into categories and subcategories, with the central phenomenon being "(Not) Taking Care of Health", which is characterized as a dualistic process that encompasses both neglect and care. Aspects relating to neglecting health include the categories: "Considering not having health problems"; "Having difficulties understanding and resisting following care"; and "Lack of adherence to treatment". In the aspect of taking care of the health, there are the categories: "Understanding that they have metabolic syndrome"; "Receiving guidance"; and "Counting on support". Conclusion: the experience of people with metabolic syndrome permeates the biological, psychological, social and spiritual spheres, as they deal with their health problems according to the social interaction maintained with themselves and other people. Therefore, meaningful communication and bonding with healthcare team are the main tools for adherence to treatment.

RESUMEN Objetivo: interpretar las experiencias de las personas con síndrome metabólico en relación con la atención sanitaria. Método: investigación cualitativa utilizando la Teoría Fundamentada como método y el Interaccionismo Simbólico como referencia de análisis. Se realizó en una Unidad Básica de Salud de la ciudad de Marília/SP, Brasil, con 24 entrevistas en tres grupos muestra (pacientes, familiares y profesionales de la salud), del 9 de febrero de 2022 al 16 de enero de 2023. Resultados: se identificaron 734 códigos que se agruparon en categorías y subcategorías, siendo el fenómeno central el "(Des) Cuidado con la Salud", que se caracteriza por ser un proceso dualista que abarca tanto el abandono como el cuidado. Los aspectos relacionados con el abandono de la salud incluyen las categorías: "Considerar no tener problemas de salud"; "Tener dificultades para comprender y resistirse a seguir los cuidados"; y "Falta de adherencia al tratamiento". En el aspecto de cuidar su salud, existen las categorías: "Entendiendo que tienen síndrome metabólico"; "Recibir orientación"; y "Confiar en el apoyo". Conclusión: la experiencia de las personas con síndrome metabólico permea los ámbitos biológico, psicológico, social y espiritual, ya que abordan sus problemas de salud de acuerdo con la interacción social que mantienen consigo mismos y con otras personas. Por lo tanto, la comunicación significativa y el vínculo con el equipo de salud son las principales herramientas para la adherencia al tratamiento.

RESUMO Objetivo: interpretar as vivências de pessoas com síndrome metabólica no que se refere ao cuidado com a saúde. Método: pesquisa qualitativa utilizando como método a Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados e como referencial para análise o Interacionismo Simbólico. Foi realizada em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde do município de Marília/SP, Brasil, com 24 entrevistas em três grupos amostrais (pacientes, familiares e profissionais da saúde), no período de nove de fevereiro de 2022 a 16 de janeiro de 2023. Resultados: identificaram-se 734 códigos que foram agrupados, chegando-se às categorias e subcategorias, tendo como fenômeno central "(Des) Cuidando da saúde", que se caracteriza como processo dualista que perpassa tanto pelo descuidando quanto pelo cuidando. Os aspectos referentes ao descuidando da saúde incluem as categorias: "Considerando não ter problemas de saúde"; "Tendo dificuldades de compreensão e resistência para seguir os cuidados"; e "Faltando adesão ao tratamento". No aspecto cuidando da saúde, encontram-se as categorias: "Compreendendo que possuem síndrome metabólica"; "Recebendo orientações"; e "Contando com apoio". Conclusão: a vivência das pessoas com síndrome metabólica perpassa pelas esferas biológica, psicológica, social e espiritual, pois eles lidam com seus problemas de saúde de acordo com a interação social mantida consigo próprio e com as demais pessoas. Portanto, a comunicação significativa e o vínculo com a equipe de saúde são as principais ferramentas de adesão ao tratamento.

Genetic Polymorphisms in COL1A2 gene and the Risk of Tendinopathy: Case-Control Study.

Objective To evaluate the influence of polymorphisms on genes encoding type I collagen and the genetic susceptibility of tendinopathy. Methodology Case-control study involving 242 Brazilian athletes from different sports modalities (55 cases of tendinopathy and 187 controls). The polymorphisms COL1A1 (rs1107946) and COL1A2 (rs412777, rs42524, and rs2621215) were analyzed by the TaqMan system. Odds ratio (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a nonconditional logistic regression model. Results The mean age was 24.0 ± 5.6 years old and 65.3% were men. Of the 55 cases of tendinopathy, 25.4% had > 1 affected tendon, the most frequent being patellar (56.3%), rotator cuff (30.9%) and elbow or hand flexors (30.9%). Age and amount of time of sports practice were associated with a higher chance of presenting tendinopathy (5 and 8 times, respectively). The frequency of variant alleles in control and case patients, respectively, was: COL1A1 rs1107946 24.0 and 29.6%; COL1A2 rs412777 36.1 and 27.8%; rs42524 17.5 and 25.9%; and rs2621215 21.3 and 27.8%. After adjusting for confounding factors (age and years of sports practice), COL1A2 rs42524 and rs2621215 polymorphisms were associated with increased risk of tendinopathy (OR = 5.5; 95%CI = 1.2-24.6 and OR = 3.9; IC95% = 1.1-13.5, respectively). The haplotype COL1A2 CGT was associated with low risk for disease development (OR = 0.5; 95%CI = 0.3-0.9). Conclusion Age (≥ 25 years old), time of sports practice (≥ 6 years) and polymorphisms in the COL1A2 gene increased the risk of developing tendinopathy.

Standardization of reconstructions with flaps after Fournier's gangrene / Padronização das reconstruções com retalhos após gangrena de Fournier

Introduction: Fournier's gangrene is characterized by tissue necrosis, which requires treatment employing debridement and antibiotics with wounds of varying sizes. The objective is to standardize the surgical techniques of reconstructions with flaps used to treat wounds after Fournier's gangrene. Method: A study was conducted by searching the PubMed/Medline, SciELO, and LILACS databases. Results: In wounds with skin loss of 25% to 50%, a local advancement cutaneous flap or a pudendal flap from the thigh was used; in wounds, greater than 50%, a superomedial thigh flap or myocutaneous flap from the gracilis muscle was used, with the aim of to enable proper reconstruction. Conclusion: Advancement and pudendal thigh flaps were used for wounds with up to 50% loss of scrotal skin substance, while the myocutaneous gracilis flap and supero-medial flap of the thigh were indicated for wounds with more than 50% of the total scrotal surface affected, after Fournier gangrene.

Introdução: Gangrena de Fournier é caracterizada por necrose tecidual, que necessita de tratamento por meio de desbridamento e antibióticos, com feridas de dimensões variadas. O objetivo é padronizar as técnicas cirúrgicas de reconstruções com retalhos utilizadas no tratamento das feridas após gangrena de Fournier. Método: Realizou-se estudo por meio da busca nas bases de dados PubMed/Medline, SciELO e LILACS. Resultados: Nas feridas com perdas cutâneas de 25% a 50%, foram utilizados retalho cutâneo local de avanço ou retalho pudendo da coxa, nas maiores de 50% foram necessárias as confecções do retalho superomedial da coxa ou retalho miocutâneo do músculo grácil, com intuito de possibilitar a reconstrução adequada. Conclusão: Os retalhos de avanço e pudendo da coxa foram utilizados para feridas com perda de substância cutânea escrotal de até 50%, enquanto os retalhos miocutâneo de músculo grácil e superomedial da coxa foram indicados para as feridas com mais de 50% da superfície escrotal total acometida, após gangrena de Fournier.

Influence of 3D Microstructure Pattern and Infill Density on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of PET-G Filaments.

This study aims to evaluate the thermal and mechanical performances of PET-G thermoplastics with different 3D microstructure patterns and infill densities. The production costs were also estimated to identify the most cost-effective solution. A total of 12 infill patterns were analysed, including Gyroid, Grid, Hilbert curve, Line, Rectilinear, Stars, Triangles, 3D Honeycomb, Honeycomb, Concentric, Cubic, and Octagram spiral with a fixed infill density of 25%. Different infill densities ranging from 5% to 20% were also tested to determine the best geometries. Thermal tests were conducted in a hotbox test chamber and mechanical properties were evaluated using a series of three-point bending tests. The study used printing parameters to meet the construction sector's specific needs, including a larger nozzle diameter and printing speed. The internal microstructures led to variations of up to 70% in thermal performance and up to 300% in mechanical performance. For each geometry, the mechanical and thermal performance was highly correlated with the infill pattern, where higher infill improved thermal and mechanical performances. The economic performance showed that, in most cases, except for the Honeycomb and 3D Honeycomb, there were no significant cost differences between infill geometries. These findings can provide valuable insights for selecting the optimal 3D printing parameters in the construction industry.

Genetic Polymorphisms in COL1A2 gene and the Risk of Tendinopathy: Case-Control Study / Polimorfismos genéticos no gene COL1A2 eo risco de tendinopatia: Estudo de caso-controle

Abstract Objective To evaluate the influence of polymorphisms on genes encoding type I collagen and the genetic susceptibility of tendinopathy. Methodology Case-control study involving 242 Brazilian athletes from different sports modalities (55 cases of tendinopathy and 187 controls). The polymorphisms COLIAI (rs1107946) and COLIA2 (rs412777, rs42524, and rs2621215) were analyzed by theTaqMansystem. Odds ratio(OR)withtheir 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a nonconditional logistic regression model. Results The mean age was 24.0 ± 5.6 years old and 65.3% were men. Of the 55 cases of tendinopathy, 25.4% had > 1 affected tendon, the most frequent being patellar (56.3%), rotator cuff (30.9%) and elbow or hand flexors (30.9%). Age and amount of time of sports practice were associated with a higher chance of presenting tendinopathy (5 and 8 times, respectively). The frequency of variant alleles in control and case patients, respectively, was: COLIAI rs1107946 24.0 and 29.6%; COLIA2 rs412777 36.1 and 27.8%; rs42524 17.5 and 25.9%; and rs2621215 21.3 and 27.8%. After adjusting for confounding factors (age and years of sports practice), COLIA2 rs42524and rs2621215 polymorphisms were associated with increased risk of tendinopathy (OR = 5.5; 95% CI = 1.2-24.6 and OR = 3.9; IC95% = 1.1-13.5, respectively). The haplotype COLIA2 CGT was associated with low risk for disease development (OR = 0.5; 95%CI = 0.3-0.9). Conclusion Age (≥ 25 years old), time of sports practice (≥ 6years) and polymorphisms in the COLIA2 gene increased the risk of developing tendinopathy.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a influência de polimorfismos nos genes que codificam o colágeno tipo I e a suscetibilidade genética da tendinopatia. Metodologia Estudo caso-controle envolvendo 242 atletas brasileiros de diferentes modalidades esportivas (55 casos de tendinopatia e 187 controles). Os polimorfismos COL1A1 (rs1107946) e COL1A2 (rs412777, rs42524 e rs2621215) foram analisados pelo sistema TaqMan. As razões de chance (OR) com seus intervalos de confiança (IC) de 95% foram calculadas usando um modelo de regressão logística não-condicional. Resultados A média de idade foi de 24,0 ± 5,6 anos e 65,3% eram homens. Dos 55 casos de tendinopatia, 25,4% apresentaram mais de um tendão acometido, sendo os maisfrequentesopatelar(56,3%),omanguitorotador(30,9%)eodocotoveloou flexores das mãos (30,9%). A idade e o tempo de prática esportiva foram associados a uma maior chance de apresentar tendinopatia (5 e 8 vezes, respectivamente). A frequência dos alelos variantes nos controles e casos, respectivamente, foi: COL1A1 rs1107946 24,0 e 29,6%; COL1A2 rs412777 36,1 e 27,8%; rs42524 17,5 e 25,9%; e rs2621215 21,3 e 27,8%. Após ajuste pelos fatores de confundimento (idade e anos de práticas esportiva), os polimorfismos COL1A2 rs42524 e rs2621215 foram associados a um risco aumentado de tendinopatia (OR = 5,5; IC95% = 1,2-24,6 e OR = 3,9; IC95% = 1,1-13,5, respectivamente). O haplótipo COL1A2 CGT foi associado a um baixo risco para desenvolvimento da doença (OR = 0,5; IC95% = 0,3-0,9). Conclusão Aidade (> 25 anos), o tempo de prática esportiva (> 6 anos) e polimorfismos no gene COL1A2 aumentaram o risco de desenvolvimento da tendino-patia.

Corrigendum: Microbiome variation across populations of desert halophyte Zygophyllum qatarensis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.841217.].

Root exudate concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) affect maize rhizobacterial communities at specific developmental stages.

Root exudates shape the rhizosphere microbiome, but little is known about the specific compounds in root exudates that are important. Here, we investigated the impacts of the plant-synthesized phytohormones indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) exuded by roots on the maize rhizobacterial communities. To identify maize genotypes that differed in the root exudate concentrations of IAA and ABA, we screened hundreds of inbred lines using a semi-hydroponic system. Twelve genotypes with variable exudate concentrations of IAA and ABA were selected for a replicated field experiment. Bulk soil, rhizosphere, and root endosphere samples were collected at two vegetative and one reproductive maize developmental stage. IAA and ABA concentrations in rhizosphere samples were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The bacterial communities were analyzed by V4 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Results indicated that IAA and ABA concentrations in root exudates significantly affected the rhizobacterial communities at specific developmental stages. ABA impacted the rhizosphere bacterial communities at later developmental stages, whereas IAA affected the rhizobacterial communities at the vegetative stages. This study contributed to our knowledge about the influence that specific root exudate compounds have on the rhizobiome composition, showing that the phytohormones IAA and ABA exuded by roots have a role in the plant-microbiome interactions.

Soil depth and geographic distance modulate bacterial ß-diversity in deep soil profiles throughout the U.S. Corn Belt.

Understanding how microbial communities are shaped across spatial dimensions is of fundamental importance in microbial ecology. However, most studies on soil biogeography have focused on the topsoil microbiome, while the factors driving the subsoil microbiome distribution are largely unknown. Here we used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to analyse the factors underlying the bacterial ß-diversity along vertical (0-240 cm of soil depth) and horizontal spatial dimensions (~500,000 km2 ) in the U.S. Corn Belt. With these data we tested whether the horizontal or vertical spatial variation had stronger impacts on the taxonomic (Bray-Curtis) and phylogenetic (weighted Unifrac) ß-diversity. Additionally, we assessed whether the distance-decay (horizontal dimension) was greater in the topsoil (0-30 cm) or subsoil (in each 30 cm layer from 30-240 cm) using Mantel tests. The influence of geographic distance versus edaphic variables on the bacterial communities from the different soil layers was also compared. Results indicated that the phylogenetic ß-diversity was impacted more by soil depth, while the taxonomic ß-diversity changed more between geographic locations. The distance-decay was lower in the topsoil than in all subsoil layers analysed. Moreover, some subsoil layers were influenced more by geographic distance than any edaphic variable, including pH. Although different factors affected the topsoil and subsoil biogeography, niche-based models explained the community assembly of all soil layers. This comprehensive study contributed to elucidating important aspects of soil bacterial biogeography including the major impact of soil depth on the phylogenetic ß-diversity, and the greater influence of geographic distance on subsoil than on topsoil bacterial communities in agroecosystems.

Invenções tecnológicas de cuidadores familiares na perspectiva de profissionais da atenção domiciliar / Invenciones tecnológicas de los cuidadores familiares desde la perspectiva de los profesionales del cuidado domiciliario / Technological inventions of family caregivers from the perspective of home care professionals

Resumo Objetivo descrever as invenções tecnológicas desenvolvidas por cuidadores familiares na perspectiva de profissionais da atenção domiciliar, discutindo-as a luz das necessidades de cuidado no domicílio. Método pesquisa qualitativa, multicêntrica, apoiada no modelo teórico das Necessidades Humanas Básicas, de Wanda Horta. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de entrevistas com 52 profissionais de equipes de Atenção Domiciliar de quatro municípios de Minas Gerais, submetidas à Análise de Conteúdo. Resultados foram identificadas 27 invenções criadas por cuidadores com materiais/recursos existentes no domicílio. A maior parte das invenções foi motivada pelas necessidades psicobiológicas de movimentação, posicionamento, proteção e conforto, alimentação, eliminações fisiológicas, higiene e terapêutica medicamentosa. Outras invenções foram motivadas pelas necessidades psicossociais e psicoespirituais para melhorar a comunicação entre o cuidador e o familiar, proporcionar lazer, distração e conforto espiritual. Conclusões/Implicações para a prática os processos de invenção de cuidadores explicitam consciência reflexiva ao articularem, assistemática e intuitivamente, recursos e objetos existentes no domicílio, gerando estratégias ou produtos semelhantes a tecnologias existentes. Estas invenções podem ser avaliadas, estimuladas, orientadas ou refutadas pelos profissionais de saúde cotidianamente envolvidos no cuidado domiciliar.

Resumen Objetivo describir las invenciones tecnológicas desarrolladas por los cuidadores familiares desde la perspectiva de los profesionales de la atención domiciliaria, discutiéndolas a la luz de las necesidades de atención en el hogar. Método investigación cualitativa, sustentada en el modelo teórico de las Necesidades Humanas Básicas. Los datos fueron obtenidos a partir de entrevistas con 52 profesionales de equipos de Atención Domiciliaria de cuatro municipios de Minas Gerais, sometidos al Análisis de Contenido. Resultados se identificaron 27 inventos creados por cuidadores con materiales disponibles en casa. La mayoría de los inventos fueron motivados por las necesidades psicobiológicas de movimiento, posicionamiento, protección y comodidad, alimentación, eliminaciones, higiene y farmacoterapia. Otros inventos fueron motivados por las necesidades psicosociales y psicoespirituales de mejorar la comunicación entre el cuidador y el familiar, proporcionando entretenimiento, distracción y consuelo espiritual. Conclusiones/Implicaciones para la práctica las invenciones de los cuidadores muestran una conciencia reflexiva al articular, de manera asistemática e intuitiva, los recursos y objetos existentes en el hogar, generando estrategias o productos similares a las tecnologías existentes. Estas invenciones pueden ser evaluadas, estimuladas, guiadas o refutadas por profesionales de la salud.

Abstract Objective To describe the technological inventions developed by family caregivers from the perspective of home care professionals, discussing them in the light of the care needs at home. Method qualitative, multicenter research, supported by the theoretical model of the Basic Human Needs of Wanda Horta. The data were obtained from interviews with 52 professionals from Home Care teams in four municipalities of Minas Gerais, which were submitted to Content Analysis. Results were identified 27 inventions created by caregivers with materials/resources existing at home. Most of the inventions were motivated by the psychobiological needs of movement, positioning, protection and comfort, feeding, physiological eliminations, hygiene and drug therapy. Other inventions were motivated by psychosocial and psychospiritual needs to improve communication between caregiver and family member, provide leisure, distraction, and spiritual comfort. Conclusions/Implications for practice the processes of invention of caregivers show reflective awareness by articulating, unsystematically and intuitively, existing resources and objects at home, generating strategies or products similar to existing technologies. These inventions can be evaluated, stimulated, guided or refuted by health professionals involved in home care on a daily basis.

The Intriguing Diagnosis of Lung Cancer in a Psychiatry Inpatient Unit: A Reflection Through a Case Report.

People with intellectual developmental disorders are vulnerable to somatic and mental illnesses, often presenting with behavioural changes. Through an intriguing and uncommon case report, we aim to provide an overview of behavioural changes in patients with an intellectual developmental disorder, emphasizing the need for screening for non-psychiatric conditions. We present a clinical case of a 57-year-old man with a personal history of intellectual developmental disorder, epilepsy, and alcohol and tobacco abuse. He had a previous acute psychiatric admission in 2017 due to behaviour disorganization and irritability. In April 2019, he was readmitted with disorganized behaviour and caregiver exhaustion. On the 58th day of hospitalization, he fell off his bed and suffered a mild traumatic brain injury. A cerebral CT scan revealed two metastatic lesions in the brain. Further investigations discovered a primary neoplastic lung lesion with metastasis to pulmonary lymph nodes. This case emphasizes that despite a long follow-up with psychiatry services, physical illness should be considered when patients with intellectual developmental disorders present with behavioural changes as they can precede image and laboratory findings. Additionally, further studies are needed in order to provide guidelines and proper medical and psychosocial care for this particular population and the caregivers.

Problematic Social Media Use and Its Relationship with Depression or Anxiety: A Systematic Review.

There has been a notable increase in social media and Internet use over recent decades, not only for social interaction or entertainment, but also for working and meeting tools, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. A relationship between this usage and the development of mental illness is frequently hypothesized, but a few studies have empirical findings. This study is a systematic review of the relationship between social media use and depression or anxiety. Our Medline search yielded 1,747 papers. Our study found a strong and often bidirectional relationship between social media use and depression or anxiety. This relationship was frequently related to problematic social media use. No definite linear relationship was found between time spent using social media and depressive or anxious symptoms, but usually, the longer the time spent in that activity, the worse the outcomes. Factors related to problematic social media use were often different for men and women. Other variables may also play a role, such as nighttime-specific use, emotional involvement, and whether the individual behaves as an active or passive user. Evidence from this review provides a solid base for recommending cautious use of social media. Intense use and unhealthy habits, evidenced by addiction symptoms, may be problematic in less resilient individuals.