Riscos de quedas em idosos e a COVID-19: Um alerta de saúde e proposta de exercícios funcionais / Risk of falls in the elderly and COVID-19: A health alert and functional exercise

A COVID-19 causa uma sintomatologia diversificada e um risco eminente de morte, visto ainda que não há tratamento específico, nem tão pouco uma vacina preventiva para todos. A população deve seguir as orientações da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) e, a principal delas é o isolamento social. No entanto, essa medida traz um grande impacto no aspecto biopsicossocial dos idosos, resultando em um possível decréscimo da capacidade funcional. O envelhecimento é compreendido como um processo fisiológico irreversível, e com isso, acarreta prejuízos na autonomia e independência. Paralelamente a esse fenômeno, nota-se que as alterações anátomofisiológicas nos idosos são diversas, aumentando assim, a incidência de quedas. O isolamento social, pode ser um fator preponderante a acentuação das quedas em idosos e consequente sobrecarga do sistema público de saúde. Logo, os exercícios físicos funcionais são fundamentais para que esses indivíduos reduzam significativamente os impactos sistêmicos causados pelo envelhecimento e consequentemente as quedas

COVID-19 causes diversified symptoms and an imminent risk of death, even though there is no specific treatment or a preventive vaccine. The population must follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization ( WHO) and the main one is social isolation. However, this measure has a great impact on the biopsychosocial aspect of the elderly, capable of decreasing functional capacity. Aging is understood as an irreversible physiological process, and as a result, it causes losses in autonomy and independence. Parallel to this phenomenon, it is noted that anatomo-physiological changes in the elderly are diverse, thus increasing the incidence of falls. Social isolation can be a major factor in accentuating falls in the elderly and the consequent burden on the public health system. Therefore, physical exercises are essentials so that they necessarily reduce the systemic impacts caused by aging and consequently as falls

Galectin-3 mediates survival and apoptosis pathways during Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell interplay.

Neglected tropical diseases, such as Chagas disease caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, affect millions of people worldwide but lack effective treatments that are accessible to the entire population, especially patients with the debilitating chronic phase. The recognition of host cells, invasion and its intracellular replicative success are essential stages for progression of the parasite life cycle and the development of Chagas disease. It is predicted that programmed cell death pathways (apoptosis) would be activated in infected cells, either via autocrine secretion or mediated by cytotoxic immune cells. This process should play a key role in resolving infections by hindering the evolutionary success of the parasite. In this research, we performed assays to investigate the role of the lectin galectin-3 (Gal3) in parasite-host signaling pathways. Using cells with endogenous levels of Gal3 compared to Gal3-deficient cells (induced by RNA interference), we demonstrated that T. cruzi mediated the survival pathways and the subverted apoptosis through Gal3 promoting a pro-survival state in infected cells. Infected Gal3-depleted cells showed increased activation of caspase 3 and pro-apoptotic targets, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and lower accumulation of anti-apoptotic proteins, such as c-IAP1, survivin and XIAP. During the early stages of infection, Gal3 translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and must act in survival pathways. In a murine model of experimental infection, Gal3 knockout macrophages showed lower infectivity and viability. In vivo infection revealed a lower parasitemia and longer survival and an increased spleen cellularity in Gal3 knockout mice with consequences on the percentage of T lymphocytes (CD4+ CD11b+) and macrophages. In addition, cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-α are increased in Gal3 knockout mice when compared to wild type genotype. These data demonstrate a Gal3-mediated complex interplay in the host cell, keeping infected cells alive long enough for infection and intracellular proliferation of new parasites. However, a continuous knowledge of these signaling pathways should contribute to a better understanding the mechanisms of cell death subversion that are promoted by protozoans in the pathophysiology of neglected diseases such as Chagas disease.

A PCR-based assay for detection of emerging vaccinia-like viruses isolated in Brazil.

We report 2 strategies to identify Brazilian vaccinia virus (VACV) isolates related to Cantagalo virus (CTGV) based on the amplification of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). One PCR protocol was combined with restriction analysis using the endonuclease SnaB I, generating a unique digestion pattern for CTGV amplicons. The restriction profile could identify 41 CTGV-related isolates in 43 clinical specimens and clearly differentiated them from other orthopoxviruses and strains of VACV. Alternatively, we used a 1-step PCR assay with primers that specifically targeted CTGV HA sequence. This protocol produced similar results more rapidly than the 1st strategy, eliminating post-PCR procedures. The results were supported by Western blot analysis of the viral protein profile in infected cells. Both PCR-based methods enabled a fast, sensitive, and cost-effective detection of new isolates of VACV related to CTGV directly from clinical samples without requiring virus isolation.

Os programas da TV e a formação sexual das crianças: sobra TV faltam pais? / The TV shows and children's sexuality: too much TV so few parents?

A TV transformou-se numa espécie de 'Grande Guia, Companheira e Babá' das crianças. Muitas dedicam mais tempo aos programas de TV do que `a escola e a outras atividades. Muitos livros, artigos em revistas, sites e grupos da sociedade, tem discutido a qualidade da programação, a necessidade de algum tipo de controle devido, por exemplo, ao exagerado número de estímulos eróticos-sensuais, aos quais as crianças ficam expostas através dos programas de TV. Parece que os pais/responsáveis, não diferenciam a programação geral variada, das TVs brasileiras, da programação infantil (IBOPE/Pesquisa de Mídia-2000), permitindo que as crianças também assitam outros programas direcionados a outros segmentos,em horários inadequados ao público infantil. Neste sentido, concluem os autores que a TV, com maior preocupação e critério ético em suas produções televisivas, assim como a família, orientando seus filhos na seleção do que vão ou não assitir na TV, poderão contribuir para o adequado desenvolvimento das crianças(AU)