Comparative assessment of antibacterial activity of Matricaria chamomilla L. extract, nisin and of its combination against Alicyclobacillus spp.

Alicyclobacillus spp. is a potential spoiling agent of acidic products and citrus drinks, leading to sensory alterations in contaminated products and consequent economic losses. Treatments such as pasteurization eliminate vegetative cells, but also create a favorable atmosphere for spore germination. To guarantee quality and safety, the application of natural substances as bioconservatives is a considerable and promising alternative for the food industry. This study evaluated the effect of hexane extract of Matricaria chamomilla L. (HE), Nisin (N) and their combination (HE + N). These compounds are present in some studies describing their antibacterial action, but no studies were found on the association of these compounds against the species Alicyclobacillus spp. This study aimed to analyze the antioxidant activity (AA) for the DPPH• (0,23 µmol Trolox/mg) and ABTS (27.93 µmol Trolox/mg), the Checkboard test revealed synergism between HE and N with a fractional inhibitory index (FIC) of 0.068., and to study the antibacterial and sporicidal effect. The antibacterial and sporicidal activity was satisfactory against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris with MIC and MBC of 1.95 µg/mL and MSC of 7.81 µg/mL in analyzes using HE + N. The application in orange juice proved to be effective, with an MBC of 0.007 µg/mL. The MIC results served as a parameter for other tests carried out in this study, such as flow cytometry and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and for the evaluation of sensory characteristics with Electronic Nose (E-nose).

Inclusion Complexes of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers Essential Oil into ß-Cyclodextrin: Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, Cytotoxicity and Antifungal Activity.

The uses of natural compounds, such as essential oils (EOs), are limited due to their instability to light, oxygen and temperature, factors that affect their application. Therefore, improving stability becomes necessary. The objective of this study was to prepare inclusion complexes of Litsea cubeba essential oil (LCEO) with ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) using physical mixing (PM), kneading (KN) and co-precipitation (CP) methods and to evaluate the efficiency of the complexes and their physicochemical properties using ATR-FTIR, FT-Raman, DSC and TG. The study also assessed cytotoxicity against human colorectal and cervical cancer cells and antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides. The complexation efficiency results presented significant evidence of LCEO:ß-CD inclusion complex formation, with KN (83%) and CP (73%) being the best methods used in this study. All tested LCEO:ß-CD inclusion complexes exhibited toxicity to HT-29 cells. Although the cytotoxic effect was less pronounced in HeLa tumor cells, LCEO-KN was more active against Hela than non-tumor cells. LCEO-KN and LCEO-CP inclusion complexes were efficient against both toxigenic fungi, A. flavus and F. verticillioides. Therefore, the molecular inclusion of LCEO into ß-CD was successful, as well as the preliminary biological results, evidencing that the ß-CD inclusion process may be a viable alternative to facilitate and increase future applications of this EO as therapeutic medication, food additive and natural antifungal agent.

Leptin, ghrelin, & insulin levels and food intake in premenstrual syndrome: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between food intake and serum levels of leptin and ghrelin in the luteal (LP) and follicular (FP) phases of the MC (menstrual cycle) in participants with and without PMS (premenstrual syndrome). METHODS: This was a case-control study with healthy participants aged 20-45 years with regular menstrual cycles (24-35 days) with and without PMS. After the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) was filled out for two months (PMS diagnosis), a nutritional assessment was carried out based on twelve food intake records (for two menstrual cycles) to quantify food intake. RESULTS: Of the 69 participants analyzed, 35 experienced PMS and 34 did not experience PMS. For participants with PMS, calorie and carbohydrate intake was higher during LP than in FP (p = 0.004 and p = 0.003, respectively), whereas these changes were not observed in participants without PMS (p > 0.05). There were interactions between the groups and the MC phases (LP and FP) for the intake of calories (p = 0.028) and carbohydrates (p = 0.001). There was a marginal negative relationship between the levels of ghrelin and calorie intake in FP (rS = -0.314, p = 0.066) in the PMS group and a negative relationship between the levels of ghrelin and leptin in LP (rS = -0.490, p = 0.004) in the group without PMS. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated a higher calorie and carbohydrate intake during LP in participants with PMS, in addition to the hypothesis that the roles of ghrelin and leptin in energy regulation may be different in participants with PMS compared to those without PMS.

The Effect of Different Rest Intervals Between Agonist-Antagonist Paired Sets on Training Performance and Efficiency.

ABSTRACT: Behenck, C, Sant'Ana, H, Pinto de Castro, JB, Willardson, JM, and Miranda, H. The effect of different rest intervals between agonist-antagonist paired sets on training performance and efficiency. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 781-786, 2022-The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of different rest intervals (RIs) between agonist-antagonist paired sets (APS) on training performance and efficiency. Eighteen recreationally trained men (age: 21.5 ± 2.1 years, body mass: 74.5 ± 10.4 kg, height: 1.75 ± 0.04 m, body mass index: 24.4 ± 3.7 kg·m-2) completed 4 sessions. During each session, a 10-repetition maximum load was used for 3 APS of Bench Row + Bench Press and Lat Pull-down + Overhead Press with RI between APS sequences of 1, 2, 3 minutes (min) or self-selected RI (SRI). Total training volume (TTV), session time and efficiency were measured in all sessions. The 1-minute RI resulted in significantly less TTV vs. the other conditions (p = 0.000). The 2-minute RI resulted in significantly less TTV vs. the 3-minute RI (p = 0.002), but the SRI was not significantly different vs. the 3-minute RI. For session time, the 1-minute RI was significantly less (p = 0.000) and the 3-minute RI was significantly greater (1-minute and 2-minute RI, p = 0.000; SRI, p = 0.010) than the other conditions. Therefore, the efficiency of the 1-minute RI was significantly greater vs. the other conditions (3-minute RI and SRI, p = 0.000; 2-minute RI, p = 0.001) and the 2-minute RI was significantly greater vs. the 3-minute RI (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in TTV, session time, and efficiency between the 2-minute RI and SRI conditions. In conclusion, the 2-minute RI and SRI conditions may present a better cost-effectiveness. It is suggested that self-selected RI can provide better performance, whereas 2-minute RI may enable greater efficiency.

Effects of Different Types of Resistance Training and Detraining on Functional Capacity, Muscle Strength, and Power in Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Study.

ABSTRACT: Filho, MM, Venturini, GRdO, Moreira, OC, Leitão, L, Mira, PA, Castro, JB, Aidar, FJ, Novaes, JdS, Vianna, JM, and Caputo Ferreira, ME. Effects of different types of resistance training and detraining on functional capacity, muscle strength, and power in older women: A randomized controlled study. J Strength Cond Res 36(4): 984-990, 2022-Resistance training (RT) increases muscle strength, power, and functional capacity (FC) of older women. However, these benefits can be lost partially or totally with detraining. This study aimed to compare the effect of 20 weeks of different types of RT and 4 weeks of detraining on muscle strength, power, and FC in older women. Ninety-five older women were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups (strength endurance, power, absolute strength, and relative strength training) and 1 control group (CG). We assessed muscle strength (10RM test) and muscle power of the lower (countermovement jump) and upper limbs (medicine ball pitch). Functional capacity was assessed by the Senior Fitness Test, which comprises the following tests: 30-second arm curl, 30-second chair stand, back scratch, chair sit and reach, 8-foot up and go, and 6-minute walk. The experiment lasted 24 weeks (familiarization: 2 weeks; neural adaptation: 6 weeks; specific training: 12 weeks; and detraining: 4 weeks). Muscle strength, lower and upper limb power (all p < 0.05), 30-second arm curl, 30-second chair stand, 8-foot up and go, 6-minute walk (all p < 0.001), and lower limb flexibility (p = 0.002) improved in all experimental groups after training and CG showed no differences in any of these variables. After detraining, muscle strength, lower and upper limb power (p < 0.05 for all), and FC decreased in comparison to the end of RT (30-second arm curl, 30-second chair stand, 8-foot up and go, 6-minute walk, and lower limb flexibility, p < 0.05 for all). Although the FC of the subjects has been reduced after 4 weeks of detraining, it was maintained at higher levels in comparison to baseline. These results suggested that older women can be submitted to different types of RT to achieve improvements in general fitness.

Analytical and toxicological aspects of dithiocarbamates: an overview of the last 10 years.

Compilation studies related to toxicological aspects and also biological monitoring and analysis methods for specific fungicides and, mainly, those that belong to the class of the dithiocarbamates (DTCs) have not been carried out at least in the last ten years. DTCs - dimethyldithiocarbamates, ethylenebisditiocarbamates, propylenebisditiocarbamates - are organosulfur compounds that form complexes due to the presence of different chemical elements, which bind strongly and inhibit enzymes that are essential to the functioning of the organism, causing a serious proven adverse effect on biological systems, such as alteration of thyroid hormones, teratogenesis and neurotoxicity. It is still evident, as shown by world data, that the growing consumption of fungicides has increasingly exposed the population in general and, in particular, workers who deal with these substances. There is a scarcity of studies in the literature discussing the toxicological and analytical aspects that are important for understanding the real effects of DTCs and monitoring human exposure to them. Therefore, the aim of this work was to expose, in a comprehensive way and through a narrative review, gaps in research related to the fungicides of the DTCs class, their metabolites, as well as the toxicological and analytical aspects involved. The review is divided into two parts: (1) Toxicological aspects, including toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics and toxidromes; and (2) Analytical Toxicology, which comprises biomarkers, sample preparation and identification/quantification methods.

Improvement of the enrichment used in the EMJH medium (Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris) for the cultivation of Leptospira spp.

Changes were made to the original formulation of the EMJH medium (Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris) enrichment and some aspects such as growth time of Leptospira and utilization in the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) were evaluated and compared to the original enrichment and to a commercially available enrichment (DIFCO™). Leptospira samples (24 antigens) that make up our panel of antigens used in MAT were used, among them, reference and autochthonous strains isolated in Brazil. The samples were grown individually in the EMJH medium under the three previously mentioned conditions (adapted enrichment, original enrichment and commercial enrichment). In addition, 89 blood serums from domestic and wild animals were analyzed by MAT using the antigens grown in these media. All samples tested grew efficiently with the adapted enrichment, and the MAT results were satisfactory. Therefore, other laboratories could also benefit from the use of this adapted enrichment when culturing the Leptospira strains applied in their MAT panels.

Treatment of urinary incontinence: a critical appraisal of clinical practice guidelines with the AGREE II instrument.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This systematic review evaluated the rigor of the development of clinical practice guidelines (CPG). METHODS: The searched sources were MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and specific databases of CPG. Reviewers, organized in triplicate and independently, selected the studies and assessed the quality of the guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument, which contains six domains for classification. The classification of the CPGs prioritized the domain 3 (developmental rigor) considering: high (score > 60%), moderate (score 30-60%), or low quality (score < 30%). The results were checked for discrepancies and decided by consensus. The interventions were described. Descriptive statistics presented the results. RESULTS: Of the ten CPGs evaluated, five were of high methodological quality, three were of moderate quality, and two of low quality. Three documents were not recommended for use. The domains with the highest scores were scope and purpose (mean = 90.1%) and clarity of presentation (mean = 88.9%). The domains of editorial independence (mean = 41.4%) and applicability (mean = 29.3%) were those with the lowest score. The most cited interventions in CPGs were the nonpharmacological, such as lifestyle interventions, bladder training, or re-education and pelvic floor muscle training. CONCLUSION: Most guidelines showed rigor in development and were recommended for use; however, editorial independence and applicability were domains that need to be improved in these documents. Our findings can guide the choice of CPG for the treatment of urinary incontinence.

Effects of Motor Imagery as a Complementary Resource on the Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Motor imagery is a technique that can be utilized in the rehabilitation process to improve the lives of patients with a functional disability acquired by this pathology. AIM: To evaluate the effects of motor imagery as a complementary intervention for the rehabilitation of stroke patients. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review in MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PEDro databases. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used motor imagery as a complementary resource for the rehabilitation of patients affected by stroke, who had motor function and functional independence as outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 1,473 studies found, ten RCTs were included. Regarding the interventions, motor imagery was associated with traditional rehabilitation, virtual reality, physical practice, structured progressive circuit class therapy, and electromyography. The upper and lower extremity performance were accessed through the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and gait speed, respectively. Although the practice of motor imagery at least twice a week during three weeks showed to be effective in improving the motor performance of post-stroke patients, the studies' protocols present a high heterogeneity, with training session times lasting between 30 to 180 minutes and a post-stroke invention window of one to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Motor imagery has been shown to be an efficacious technique in the treatment of post-stroke patients when used as a complement to traditional rehabilitation techniques. However, greater standardization of interventions and studies with higher methodological quality are required to determine further conclusions.

Litsea cubeba essential oil: chemical profile, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, effect against Fusarium verticillioides and fumonisins production.

The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical profile of Litsea cubeba essential oil, carry out an in vitro evaluation of its antioxidant potential and its cytotoxicity, as well as its antifungal and antimicotoxigenic activities against Fusarium verticillioides. Most of the compounds observed in the EO were neral (32.75%) and geranial (37.67%). The radical scavenging capacity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid was 104.4 and 56.4 mmol Trolox mg-1, respectively, indicating good antioxidant activity. The EO studied by us revealed cytotoxic effect against HT-29 and HeLa cancer cells. The Minimum Inhibitory and Minimum Fungicidal Concentrations against F. verticillioides were both 125 µg mL-1. Morphological investigation, performed by fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, showed that hyphae and microconidia structures underwent changes after treatment with the EO. Analyses performed with the EO strongly reduced the mycelial development of F. verticillioides and the synthesis of fumonisins B1 and B2 in dose-dependence effect compared (P < 0.01) with the fungal control (105 conidia mL-1) and positive control (fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M). Thus, the results obtained in vitro suggest that L. cubeba EO has excellent antioxidant, fungicidal, and antimycotoxigenic effects.

Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona strains isolated from river buffaloes.

At present, little is known regarding the prevalence of buffalo leptospirosis worldwide, especially with respect to which Leptospira strains may infect this animal species. Furthermore, most investigations into this disease in buffaloes have only been performed with serological studies. In Brazil, particularly in the Amazon, buffalo production is growing and is just as important as cattle production, although few studies have been performed on buffalo compared to cattle. Thus, the aim of this study was to isolate and characterise Leptospira strains from river buffaloes raised in the Brazilian Amazon region. We collected 109 kidney samples from slaughtered buffaloes raised in the Amazon Delta region of Brazil. The samples were analysed by bacteriological culture for the isolation of leptospires, and the obtained isolates were serologically and molecularly characterised by microscopic agglutination test (MAT), DNA sequencing and multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Five isolates were obtained, and in serogrouping analyses, these isolates were only reactive for the Pomona serogroup, with an observed titre of 25,600. The DNA sequencing results revealed that all the isolates belonged to the species Leptospira interrogans, and the MLVA results showed that the VNTR loci 4, 7 and 10 profile of all the isolates was 4-1-10. In this study, we observed that Pomona serogroup strains circulate in buffaloes in the Amazon, showing that in Brazil, buffaloes can be affected by Leptospira strains other than the Sejroe group, which are adapted to cattle.

"There is no way to avoid the first bite": A qualitative investigation of addictive-like eating in treatment-seeking Brazilian women and men.

There has been polarizing debate on addictive-like eating in recent years. To move toward valid definition and measurement of this construct, qualitative research describing individuals' experiences is needed. The present study explored how Brazilian men and women define and experience addictive-like eating. Interviews were conducted with 7 men and 8 women (Mage = 46.6 years, MBMI = 35.43 kg/m2) seeking treatment for addictive-like eating. Thematic analysis of interviews identified three saturated, overarching themes describing participants' conceptualizations of the (1) characteristics, (2) causal factors, and (3) consequences of addictive-like eating. Lack of control was a key characteristic of addictive-like eating described by all participants. A causal factor which most participants described was emotional eating. Consequences included emotional, interpersonal, occupational, and health-related impairments which appeared primarily related to weight gain, rather than to the pattern of addictive-like eating itself. These results are largely consistent with those of previous qualitative studies. Importantly, the symptoms described by our participants and in previous qualitative studies may be inadequately captured by existing self-report questionnaires designed to assess addictive-like eating. To address this potential limitation, we provide recommendations for assessing the full range of possible addictive-like eating symptoms.

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Annona muricata By-Products and Pulp.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) is widely used; however, the efficiency of extraction depends on the raw materials. Therefore, optimization of UAE must be investigated for each type of plant material. By-products from soursop fruit have not been studied as a source of bioactive compounds. In this work, the optimization of UAE conditions (extraction time (5, 10, and 15 min), pulse cycle (0.4, 0.7, and 1 s), and sonication amplitude (40%, 70%, and 100%)) for the extraction of phenolic compounds (soluble, hydrolyzable, condensed tannins, and total polyphenols) from soursop by-products (seed, peel, and columella) and pulp was evaluated using response surface methodology. The optimal conditions for UAE to obtain the highest total polyphenol content from by-products and pulp was dependent on the raw material. Peel resulted in the highest content of total polyphenols (187.32 mg/g dry matter [DM]) followed by columella (164.14 mg/g DM), seed (36.15 mg/g DM), and pulp (33.24 mg/g DM). The yield of polyphenolic content from peel and columella obtained with UAE was higher (32⁻37%) than conventional extraction for 2 h under stirring (14⁻16%). The contents of gallic acid (0.36⁻15.86 µg/g DM), coumaric acid (0.07⁻1.37 µg/g DM), and chlorogenic acid (9.18⁻32.67 µg/g DM) in the different parts of the fruit were higher in the extracts obtained by UAE compared with a conventional extraction method (0.08⁻0.61, 0.05⁻0.08, 3.15⁻13.08 µg/g DM, respectively), although it was dependent on the raw materials. Soursop by-products can be functionally important if they are used to extract bioactive compounds by UAE; a technology with high potential for commercial extraction on a large scale.

Phenolic compounds from Viscum album tinctures enhanced antitumor activity in melanoma murine cancer cells.

Cancer is one of the biggest problems in public health worldwide. Plants have been shown important role in anticancer research. Viscum album L. (Santalaceae), commonly known as mistletoe, is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on different host trees. In complementary medicine, extracts from European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) have been used in the treatment of cancer. The study was conducted to identify chemical composition and antitumor potential of Viscum album tinctures. Chemical analysis performed by high resolution chromatography equipped with high resolution mass spectrometer identified caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, sakuranetin, isosakuranetin, syringenin 4-O-glucoside, syringenin 4-O-apiosyl-glucoside, alangilignoside C and ligalbumoside A compounds. Some of these compounds are probably responsible for the reduction of tumoral cellular growth in a dose-dependent manner. It was observed that melanoma murine cells (B16F10) were more sensitive to V. album tinctures than human leukaemic cells (K562), besides non-tumoral cells (MA-104) had a much lower cytotoxicity to them. Apoptotic-like cells were observed under light microscopy and were confirmed by a typical DNA fragmentation pattern. Additionally, flow cytometry results using Annexin-V/FITC permitted to quantify increased expression of early and late apoptotic markers on tumoral cells, confirming augmented Sub G0 population, which was probably associated with a consistent decrease in G1, and an increase in S or G2/M populations. Results indicate the chemical composition of V. album tinctures influences the mechanisms of in vitro tumoral cell death, suggesting a potential use in cancer pharmacotherapy research.

Effects of uremic solutes on reactive oxygen species in vitro model systems as a possibility of support the renal function management.

BACKGROUND: In view of the prevalence of oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, the loss of low-molecular-weight biomolecules by hemodialysis and the antioxidant potential of some uremic solutes that accumulate in CKD, we used in vitro model systems to test the antioxidant potential of the following uremic solutes: uric acid, hippuric acid, p-cresol, phenol, methylguanidine, L-arginine, L-tyrosine, creatinine and urea. METHODS: The in vitro antioxidant efficiencies of the uremic solutes, isolated or in mixtures, were tested with the following assays: i) ABTS radical cation decolorization assay; ii) hypochlorous acid (HOCl/OCl(-)) scavenging activity; iii) superoxide anion radical (O2(•-)) scavenging activity; iv) crocin bleaching assay (capture of peroxyl radical, ROO(•)); v) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity. RESULTS: Four of the tested uremic solutes (p-cresol, phenol, L-tyrosine, uric acid) were effective antioxidants and their IC50 were found in three model systems: ABTS(•+), HOCl/OCl(-) and crocin bleaching assay. In the 4-solutes mixtures, each one of the solute captured 12.5% for the IC50 of the mixture to ABTS(•+) or HOCl/OCl(-), exhibiting a virtually exact additive effect. In the 2-solutes mixtures, for ROO(•) capture, it was observed the need of more mass of uremic solutes to reach an IC50 value that was higher than the projected IC50, obtained from the IC50 of single solutes (25% of each, in the binary mixtures) in the same assay. In model systems for O2(•-) and H2O2, none of the uremic solutes showed scavenging activity. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the IC50 as an analytical tool to prepare and analyze mixtures allows the determination of their scavenging capacities and may be useful for the assessment of the antioxidant status of biological samples under conditions of altered levels of the endogenous antioxidant network and/or in the employment and monitoring of exogenous antioxidant therapy.

Cancer patients under maintenance hemodialysis: relationship between quality of life, depression, sleep quality and malnutrition-inflammation score.

BACKGROUND: The kidney is one major organ affected by cancer and its associated therapies. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of depression, quality of life and sleep quality in hemodialysis patients with or without cancer, and to analyze the associations with the malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 40 cancer patients under hemodialysis and 44 patients under hemodialysis without cancer who served as the control group were included. Participants underwent structured interviews to investigate depression, quality of life, sleep quality and restless legs syndrome. RESULTS: Hemodialysis patients with cancer had a greater depression score (16.5 ± 4.8 vs. 10.8 ± 5.2, p < 0.001). Patients had similar physical and mental composite quality of life scores. Patients under hemodialysis with cancer had poor quality of sleep (mean score 8.8 ± 3.5 vs. 6.4 ± 4.1, p = 0.011) and a higher prevalence of restless leg syndrome (55.9 vs. 25.7%, p = 0.011). These features were associated with MIS in patients without cancer but not in patients with cancer. CONCLUSION: Cancer patients undergoing hemodialysis present a higher prevalence of depression, poor quality of life, sleep disorders; however, associations of these features with MIS are different in hemodialysis patients with or without cancer. These findings can change the clinical approach to these patients.

Increased postpartum anxiety symptoms after perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large, prospective pregnancy cohort in New York City.

Numerous studies reported an increase of postpartum mood symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the link between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and perinatal mental health is less well understood. We investigated the associations between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms, including examinations of infection timing and pandemic timeline. We included 595 participants from Generation C, a prospective pregnancy cohort in New York City (2020-2022). Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined via laboratory or medical diagnosis. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured 4-12 weeks postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD), respectively. Quantile regressions were conducted with prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection as exposure and continuously measured EPDS and GAD scores as outcomes. We reran the analyses in those with COVID-19-like symptoms in the trimester during which infection occurred. 120 (20.1%) participants had prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection. After adjusting for socio-demographic, obstetric and other maternal health factors, prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with higher median postpartum anxiety scores (b = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.15; 0.96). Late gestation infection (b = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.22; 2.09) and symptomatic infection (b = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.12; 2.18) were also associated with higher median postpartum anxiety scores. No associations were found with depressive symptoms. The associations were not moderated by time since the start of the pandemic. This study suggests that prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection increases the risk of postpartum anxiety symptoms among participants reporting median anxiety symptoms. Given that this association was not affected by pandemic timing and that SARS-CoV-2 transmission continues, individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy should be monitored for postpartum anxiety symptoms.

The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination on Th17 and regulatory T cells in a pregnancy cohort in NYC.

Disturbances in T-cells, specifically the Th17/Treg balance, have been implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes. We investigated these two T-cell populations following pre-pregnancy and pregnancy SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination in 351 participants from a pregnancy cohort in New York City (Generation C; 2020-2022). SARS-CoV-2 infection status was determined via laboratory or medical diagnosis and COVID-19 vaccination status via survey and electronic medical records data. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected at routine prenatal visits throughout gestation (median 108 days; IQR 67-191 days) with repeated measures for 104 participants (29.6%). T-cell populations CD4+/CD3+, Th17/CD4+, Treg/CD4+ and the Th17/Treg ratio were quantified using flow cytometry. Results showed that inter-individual differences are a main influencing factor in Th17 and Treg variance, however total variance explained remained small (R2 = 15-39%). Overall, Th17 and Treg populations were not significantly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy in adjusted linear mixed models (p>0.05), however comparison of repeated measures among SARS-CoV-2 infected participants and non-infected controls suggests a relative increase of the Th17/Treg ratio following infection. In addition, the Th17/Treg ratio was significantly higher after SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to pregnancy (10-138 weeks) compared to controls (ß=0.48, p=0.003). COVID-19 vaccination was not associated with Th17 and Treg cells. Our findings suggest an impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the Th17/Treg ratio, likely depending on severity of infection, yet the observed trends and their potential consequences for pregnancy outcomes require further investigation. Our study contributes to growing evidence that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy does not lead to an exacerbated immune response.

Combat sport in the body composition of the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze possible changes in body composition in elderly individuals with combat sports as an intervention. METHODS: This study is characterized as a systematic review and meta-analysis. The PRISMA criteria were followed, and the study was registered in PROSPERO under the number CRD42023392613. The databases used were MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Science Direct. The risk of bias and methodological quality were assessed using Robins-I, Cochrane, and Testex tools. RESULTS: Of the 126 publications found, 9 studies were included (5 controlled and randomized studies and 4 intervention studies). Of these studies, 6 provided data for the meta-analysis. A total of 126 publications were found and, the studies included in this systematic review had an average of 51 weeks, 3 times a week, and 50 min per session. In the results presented by the meta-analysis the variable body fat showed a reduction (SMD: -0.11; 95% CI: -0.99 to 0.09; p = 0.02; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: Combat sports showed an improvement in the body composition of the elderly, with a reduction in the percentage of body fat.

Clinical usefulness of tissue acquisition of pancreatic cystic lesions using an endoscopic ultrasound-guided needle for histological analysis.

Background and study aims There are rare data on the usefulness of endosonography-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) in patients with pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs). This study aimed to determine the accuracy of EUS-TA with ProCore 20G (PC20) for differentiating between mucinous neoplasia (MN) and non-MNs (n-MN) and identifying malignant PCLs, as well as its adverse events (AEs) in patients with PCLs without a classificatory diagnosis by imaging exams. Patients and methods In this observational, retrospective, single-center study, all patients with PCL who underwent EUS-TA due to diagnostic doubts in imaging studies were consecutively recruited from June 2017 to December 2021. The outcomes were to determine the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-TA with PC20 for differentiating between MN and n-MN, identifying malignant PCLs, and the AEs. Results Herein, 145 patients underwent EUS-TA, with 83 women (57.2%) and a mean age of 62.2 years. The mean size was 2.3 cm, with 81 patients (77.9%) having a PCL < 3.0 cm. The final diagnosis was made by EUS-TA (n = 81), surgery (n = 58), and follow-up (n = 6). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy for differentiating between MNs and n-MNs and identifying malignant PCLs were 92.6%, 98.4%, 98.7%, 91.3%, and 95.2% (kappa=0.9), and 92%, 99.2%, 95.8%, 98.3%, and 97.9% (kappa = 0.93), respectively. The AE rate was 2.7%, with no deaths in this cohort. Conclusions EUS-TA with PC20 has high accuracy and technical success with a low AE rate for PCL diagnosis.