Stability of influenza A virus in droplets and aerosols is heightened by the presence of commensal respiratory bacteria.

Aerosol transmission remains a major challenge for control of respiratory viruses, particularly those causing recurrent epidemics, like influenza A virus (IAV). These viruses are rarely expelled alone, but instead are embedded in a consortium of microorganisms that populate the respiratory tract. The impact of microbial communities and inter-pathogen interactions upon stability of transmitted viruses is well-characterized for enteric pathogens, but is under-studied in the respiratory niche. Here, we assessed whether the presence of five different species of commensal respiratory bacteria could influence the persistence of IAV within phosphate-buffered saline and artificial saliva droplets deposited on surfaces at typical indoor air humidity, and within airborne aerosol particles. In droplets, presence of individual species or a mixed bacterial community resulted in 10- to 100-fold more infectious IAV remaining after 1 h, due to bacterial-mediated flattening of drying droplets and early efflorescence. Even when no efflorescence occurred at high humidity or the bacteria-induced changes in droplet morphology were abolished by aerosolization instead of deposition on a well plate, the bacteria remained protective. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the most stabilizing compared to other commensals at equivalent density, indicating the composition of an individual's respiratory microbiota is a previously unconsidered factor influencing expelled virus persistence.IMPORTANCEIt is known that respiratory infections such as coronavirus disease 2019 and influenza are transmitted by release of virus-containing aerosols and larger droplets by an infected host. The survival time of viruses expelled into the environment can vary depending on temperature, room air humidity, UV exposure, air composition, and suspending fluid. However, few studies consider the fact that respiratory viruses are not alone in the respiratory tract-we are constantly colonized by a plethora of bacteria in our noses, mouth, and lower respiratory system. In the gut, enteric viruses are known to be stabilized against inactivation and environmental decay by gut bacteria. Despite the presence of a similarly complex bacterial microbiota in the respiratory tract, few studies have investigated whether viral stabilization could occur in this niche. Here, we address this question by investigating influenza A virus stabilization by a range of commensal bacteria in systems representing respiratory aerosols and droplets.

Anxiolytic effect of alamandine in male transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen is dependent on activation of MrgD receptors.

Alamandine is a peptide hormone belonging to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). It acts through the Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor type D, MrgD, which is expressed in different tissues, including the brain. In the present study, we hypothesize that a lack of alamandine, through MrgD, could cause the anxiety-like behavior in transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen [TGR(ASrAOGEN)680]. Adult male transgenic rats exhibited a significant increase in the latency to feeding time in the novelty suppressed feeding test and a decrease in the percentage of time and entries in the open arms in the elevated plus maze. These effects were reversed by intracerebroventricular infusion of alamandine. Pretreatment with D-Pro7-Ang-(1-7), a Mas and MrgD receptor antagonist, prevented the anxiolytic effects induced by this peptide. However, its effects were not altered by the selective Mas receptor antagonist, A779. In conclusion, our data indicates that alamandine, through MrgD, attenuates anxiety-like behavior in male TGR(ASrAOGEN)680, which reinforces the importance of the counter-regulatory RAS axis as promising target for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Differential Performance and Lung Deposition of Levofloxacin with Different Nebulisers Used in Cystic Fibrosis.

We compared the performance and levofloxacin (Quinsair) lung deposition of three nebulisers commonly used in CF (I-Neb Advance, eFlow rapid, and LC Plus) with the approved nebuliser Zirela. The delivered dose, delivery rate, and aerosol particle size distribution (APSD) for each device were determined using the methods described in the Pharmacopeia. High-resolution computed tomography scans obtained from seven adult patients with mild CF were used to generate computer-aided, three-dimensional models of their airway tree to assess lung deposition using functional respiratory imaging (FRI). The eFlow rapid and the LC Plus showed poor delivery efficiencies due to their high residual volumes. The I-Neb, which only delivers aerosols during the inspiratory phase, achieved the highest aerosol delivery efficiency. However, the I-Neb showed the largest particle size and lowest delivery rate (2.9 mg/min), which were respectively associated with a high extrathoracic deposition and extremely long nebulisation times (>20 min). Zirela showed the best performance considering delivery efficiency (159.6 mg out of a nominal dose of 240 mg), delivery rate (43.5 mg/min), and lung deposition (20% of the nominal dose), requiring less than 5 min to deliver a full dose of levofloxacin. The present study supports the use of drug-specific nebulisers and discourages the off-label use of general-purpose devices with the present levofloxacin formulation since subtherapeutic lung doses and long nebulisation times may compromise treatment efficacy and adherence.

Obstructive sleep apnea is independently associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis among middle-aged women.

PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with coronary disease among men. However, this association is not clear for women. In this study, we evaluate the association between OSA and presence of subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by tomographic coronary calcium score in middle-aged women. METHODS: We evaluated consecutive women aged between 45 and 65 years in perimenopause or postmenopause period (with menstrual irregularity-amenorrhea > 60 days), without manifest cardiovascular disease (heart failure, coronary disease, and stroke), from two gynecologic clinics. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, computed tomographic examination for coronary artery calcium (CAC > 100 Agatston units), and portable sleep study. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between OSA and CAC, controlling for traditional risk factors including Framingham Risk Score (FRS), body mass index (BMI), and diabetes. RESULTS: We studied 214 women (age 56 years (52-61); BMI 28 kg/m2 (25-31), 25 % diabetes, 62 % hypertension). OSA (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5 events/h) was diagnosed in 82 women (38.3 %). CAC was more prevalent in patients with moderate/severe OSA (AHI ≥15 events/h) than in patients without or with mild OSA, 19 % vs 4.5 and 1.6 %, respectively (p < 0.01). Moderate to severe OSA was associated with CAC in unadjusted (odds ratio = 6.25, 95 % CI 1.66-23.52; p < 0.01) and adjusted (odds ratio = 8.19, 95 % CI 1.66-40.32; p = 0.01) logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Moderate to severe OSA is independently associated with the presence of CAC in middle-aged women. These results reinforce the concept that women are also susceptible to the cardiovascular consequences of OSA.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes after bariatric surgery: a case control study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of maternal and perinatal pregnancies of obese women after bariatric surgery. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out on 63 women who had undergone bariatric surgery and 73 obese women (control). Demographic data, the characteristics of the bariatric surgery, and the maternal and perinatal results were evaluated. The Student's t-test and chi-square test (χ2) were used to compare the groups. The gestational complications of the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus, anemia, and preeclampsia were analyzed using simple and multivariate logistical regression and odd ratios (OD) with their respective confidence intervals (CI) of 95%. RESULTS: The average body mass index (BMI) at the 1st prenatal appointment of the control group was 34.6±3.3 kg/m2 and that of the post-surgical group was 26.5±4.2 kg/m2. The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass was used in 100% of cases; no complications were observed during or after the surgeries. The average weight loss in patients with a prior bariatric surgery was statistically significant (P=0.000). The average weight at birth of the control group was significantly higher than in the post-bariatric surgery group (P=0.017). The women who had a prior bariatric surgery had a higher chance of anemia (OR=3.5; CI 95%: 1.5-8.3) and a reduced chance of macrosomia (OR=0.2; CI 95%:0.1-0.5), and prematurity (OR=0.3; CI 95%:0.1-0.7). CONCLUSION: Those women who had been submitted to bariatric surgery presented better maternal and perinatal results when compared to obese women.

Surrogate headform accelerations associated with stick checks in girls' lacrosse.

Girls' lacrosse is fundamentally a different sport than boys' lacrosse, and girls are not required to wear protective headgear. Recent epidemiological studies have found that stick checks are the leading cause of concussion injury in girls' lacrosse. The purpose of this study was to determine stick check speeds and estimate the head acceleration associated with direct checks to the head. In addition, we briefly examine if commercially available headgear can mitigate the accelerations. Seven (n = 7) experienced female lacrosse players checked, with varying severity, a NOSCAE and an ASTM headform. Stick speed at impact and the associated peak linear accelerations of the headform were recorded. The NOCSAE headform was fitted with four commercially available headgear and similar stick impact testing was performed. The median stick impact speed was 8.1 m/s and 777 deg/s. At these speeds, peak linear acceleration was approximately 60g. Three out of the four headgear significantly reduced the peak linear acceleration when compared with the bare headform. These data serve as baseline for understanding the potential mechanism and reduction of concussions from stick impacts in girls' lacrosse.

Waist circumference and menopausal status are independent predictors of endothelial low-grade inflammation.

BACKGROUND: The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) seems to be associated with the presence of atherosclerosis. The association between menopause-related changes in endogenous sex hormones and hs-CRP levels remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To compare the levels of hs-CRP in pre- and postmenopausal women and to evaluate the association of endogenous sex hormones, waist circumference (WC) and insulin resistance with the levels of hs-CRP. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 145 women (age range: 45-65 years), 56 premenopausal and 89 postmenopausal. Patients were evaluated for hormonal and lipid profile, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP and WC. Each variable was first assessed for correlation with log hs-CRP using a univariate model, and significant variables were then added to the multivariate regression model. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The hs-CRP is higher in postmenopausal patients (3.6 ± 4.9 versus 2.6 ± 3.7, p = 0.004). The log hs-CRP was positively correlated with WC (r = 0.13, p = 0.005), HOMA-IR (r = 0.29, p = 0.001), and triglycerides (r = 0.50, p = 0.01). The menopausal status (p = 0.02) and WC (p = 0.00003) behaved as independent predictors of hs-CRP levels. No correlation was found between hs-CRP and the time since menopause (r = -0.1, p = 0.58). CONCLUSIONS: The hs-CRP is higher in postmenopausal patients. The menopausal status and WC were independently associated with hs-CRP levels in this sample of pre and postmenopausal women.

Critically ill patients with high predicted mortality: Incidence and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: As calculated by the severity scores, an unknown number of patients are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a very high risk of death. Clinical studies have poorly addressed this population, and their prognosis is largely unknown. DESIGN: Post hoc analysis of a multicenter, cohort, longitudinal, observational, retrospective study (CIMbA). SETTING: Sixteen Portuguese multipurpose ICUs. PATIENTS: Patients with a Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) predicted hospital mortality above 80% on admission to the ICU (high-risk group); A comparison with the remaining patients was obtained. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Hospital, 30 days, 1 year mortality. RESULTS: We identified 4546 patients (59.9% male), 12.2% of the whole population. Their SAPS II predicted hospital mortality was 89.0±5.8%, whilst the observed mortality was lower, 61.0%. This group had higher mortality, both during the first 30 days (aHR 3.52 [95% CI 3.34-3.71]) and from day 31 to day 365 after ICU admission (aHR 1.14 [95%CI 1.04-1.26]), respectively. However, their hospital standardized mortality ratio was similar to the other patients (0.69 vs. 0.69, P=.92). At one year of follow-up, 30% of patients in the high-risk group were alive. CONCLUSIONS: Roughly 12% of patients admitted to the ICU for more than 24h had a SAPS II score predicted mortality above 80%. Their hospital standardized mortality was similar to the less severe population and 30% were alive after one year of follow-up.

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlinch: An unusual presentation in a patient with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome is an uncommon urogenital anomaly defined by uterus didelphys, obstructed hemi-vagina and unilateral renal anomalies. The most common clinical presentation is dysmenorrhoea following menarche, but it can also present as pain and an abdominal mass. Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare neuroendocrine genetic syndrome. Hypothalamic dysfunction is common and pituitary hormone deficiencies including hypogonadism are prevalent. We report the case of a 33-year-old female with Prader-Willi syndrome who was referred to the Gynaecology clinic due to vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a haematometra and haematocolpos and computed tomography showed a uterus malformation and a right uterine cavity occupation (hematometra) as well as right kidney agenesis. Vaginoscopy and hysteroscopy were performed under general anaesthesia, finding a right bulging vaginal septum and a normal left cervix and hemiuterus. Septotomy was performed with complete haematometrocolpos drainage. The association of the two syndromes remains unclear.

Hours of sleep and associated factors in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Sleep alterations are common in college students, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic factors may predict these alterations in this population. OBJECTIVE: To identify the sociodemographic factors and health characteristics associated with the number of hours of sleep of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out with 244 university students from a multicampi public university in the State of Bahia, Northeast Brazil. Data collection was performed online and participants answered a specific questionnaire to assess sleep hours, sociodemographic and health variables. RESULTS: Significant associations were observed between hours of sleep and older students (odds ratio adjusted -ORaj: 3.75; 95% Confidence Interval -CI: 1.81-7.75; p < 0.01), attending the final semesters (ORaj: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.05-3.25; p < 0.03), and who reported having some disease (ORaj: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.05-4.50; p < 0.03) with greater chances of getting less sleep. However, those who used tobacco (ORaj: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.45; p < 0.001) were likely to have more hours of sleep per night. CONCLUSION: Sleep restriction was common among participating college students, which has likely intensified due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions. This encourages specific public health actions, contemplating the health and hours of sleep of this population.

Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, hormonal contraceptive use, and the plasma proteome in Caucasian, East Asian, and South Asian young adults.

Vitamin D affects gene expression, but its downstream effects on the proteome are unclear. Hormonal contraceptives (HC), which affect vitamin D metabolism and have widespread effects on the plasma proteome, may confound the association between vitamin D and the proteome. We determined whether HC use modified the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) and a panel of 54 high-abundance plasma proteins. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted in healthy, nonsmoking female HC users (n = 216), female HC nonusers (n = 502), and men (n = 301) from Toronto, Canada. Plasma 25D was measured by HPLC-MS/MS, and proteins were measured by LC-multiple-reaction-monitoring (MRM)-MS. The 54 proteins clustered into four distinct proteomic profiles. A positive association was observed between Profile 1, containing positive acute phase proteins, and 25D. In female HC users, a J-shaped association existed between Profile 1 and 25D, but no associations existed in female HC nonusers and men. Twelve proteins were individually associated with 25D in female HC users, but only two were associated with 25D in female HC nonusers and no associations were observed in men. After accounting for hormone dose, only three proteins were associated with 25D. In summary, HC use is an important confounder of the association between circulating 25D and numerous plasma proteins.

Sleep-Wake profiles in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Impaired sleep quality and daytime sleepiness have been described in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). However, no information is available on their sleep timing/diurnal preference. AIMS: To evaluate such variables and determine their relationship with sleep quality, fatigue, pruritus and quality of life. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with PBC (58 ± 12 years), 79 healthy volunteers (56 ± 8 years) and 60 patients with cirrhosis (58 ± 12 years) underwent formal assessment of sleep quality/timing, diurnal preference and daytime sleepiness. Patients with PBC also underwent assessment of fatigue, quality of life and the daytime course of sleepiness/pruritus. RESULTS: Sleep timing was significantly delayed in both patients with PBC and with cirrhosis, compared to healthy volunteers (sleep onset time: 23:18 ± 01:00 vs. 23:30 ± 01:00 vs. 22:54 ± 00:54 hours, respectively; P < 0.05). In patients with PBC, delayed sleep timing was associated with impaired sleep quality (P < 0.05). Sleepiness showed a physiological daily rhythm, with early afternoon/evening peaks. Pruritus was absent in the morning and increased over the afternoon/evening hours. Both the daytime course of pruritus and sleepiness changed in relation to diurnal preference. Patients with PBC and significant pruritus (upper quartile) had prolonged sleep latency (39 ± 37 vs. 21 ± 23 min, P = 0.05) and earlier wake-up times (5.9 ± 0.8 vs. 6.7 ± 0.9 min, P < 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between sleep timing and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PBC exhibited a delay in sleep timing that was associated with impaired sleep quality/quality of life. In addition, an interplay was observed between diurnal preference and the daytime course of pruritus/sleepiness.

Plasma vitamin D and biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk in adult Canadians, 2007-2009.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D may modulate cardiometabolic disease risk, although the relationship has not been investigated in the general Canadian population. Understanding this relationship may inform public health strategies to curb the incidence of cardiometabolic disease in Canada and elsewhere. The objectives of this study were to examine the association between vitamin D and traditional and novel biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease and to describe the extent of the month-to-month fluctuations of vitamin D in the Canadian population. METHODS: We examined the association between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and a range of cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in participants (n = 1,928; age range, 16-79 years) from the Canadian Health Measures Survey. We conducted linear regressions analyses (adjusted for sex, waist circumference, physical activity, hormone use, and season) to assess the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and biomarkers of dysglycemia, dyslipidemia, and inflammation in the study population. We repeated analyses stratified by sex, and we evaluated monthly fluctuations in 25-hydroxyvitamin D in men and women. RESULTS: We observed wide month-to-month variations in 25-hydroxyvitamin D; fluctuations were more pronounced in men. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D was inversely associated with insulin, insulin resistance, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the ratio of total to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but not with fasting glucose, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, or homocysteine. This pattern varied between men and women. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D may modulate various metabolic processes and may influence cardiometabolic disease risk in Canadians. These findings may have public health implications when recommending vitamin D for the prevention of cardiometabolic disease and related conditions.

Polymyoclonus, ventricular fibrillation and Takotsubo after accidental spinal injection of tranexamic acid.

Several factors have been identified as contributing to medication administration errors, including look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) errors. LASA errors are important causes of serious adverse events arising from spinal injection of tranexamic acid, which can be confused with ampoules of local anaesthesia.We present a case of accidental injection of 250 mg of tranexamic acid rather than prilocaine during spinal anaesthesia. The patient developed lower extremities myoclonus, followed by generalised convulsions and ventricular fibrillation, that was reverted within 6 min. Severe cardiogenic shock requiring both inotropic and vasopressor therapy followed, along with a classic apical ballooning pattern on echocardiography and elevated myocardial injury markers, indicating Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The patient's condition progressively improved to full recovery, and she was discharged from hospital after 1 month with no neurological deficit or cardiac dysfunction.To our knowledge, this is the 28th reported case of accidental spinal injection of tranexamic acid. We present a brief review of previously published cases.

Locomotor adaptations in the Early Miocene species Diamantomys luederitzi (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Uganda (Napak).

The study of morphological adaptations to different ecological parameters among fossil vertebrates has been an important challenge in recent decades. In this paper, we focus on the link between morphological traits and locomotor behavior such as terrestriality, fossoriality and arboreality (including gliding). One of the most diverse groups in which various locomotor habits are represented is rodents, occupying a wide range of ecological niches. This work highlights morphological variations in skulls and humerus in extant rodents with varying locomotion, to predict this parameter in the extinct species Diamantomys luederitzi (Early Miocene, Napak, Uganda). Linear discriminant analysis and phylogenetic flexible discriminant analysis are used to analyze datasets obtained via traditional morphometry (measurements) and geometric morphometrics (landmarks). The results show good discrimination between locomotor groups for both structures in extant species: the skull has a wider and longer rostrum in terrestrial and fossorial taxa compared to arboreal rodents, is also higher and posteriorly wider in fossorial taxa; the distal humerus shows elongation of the trochlea and capitulum and a higher trochlea in fossorial and terrestrial species, allowing an increase of stability instead of mobility, which is more important in arboreal taxa for movement in trees. In D. luederitzi, all skull analyses except one predicted it as a terrestrial species, the other prediction as a glider was possibly linked to the diet. For the distal humerus, this species has been predicted as a terrestrial, fossorial and arboreal taxon in differing analyses, reflected by morphological traits represented in these different locomotor categories. These varying predictions could highlight the intraspecific variation in this fossil species as well as its locomotor repertoire, raising a discussion about the use of different methods in such analyses. In addition to these predictions, several issues are discussed, such as the presence of locomotor signal in the skull and its validity in locomotor studies, as well as the relevance of the use of fragmentary material in such analyses. The results obtained in this work highlight the importance of the locomotor signal in these structures, as well as the possibility of taking into account poorly preserved material, in particular the distal humerus.

Reproducibility and validity of the Toronto-modified Harvard food frequency questionnaire in a multi-ethnic sample of young adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To assess the reproducibility and validity of a Toronto-modified Harvard food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) among a multi-ethnic sample of young adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 150 participants recruited from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study cohort who had existing dietary intakes assessed by FFQ (FFQ1) and reassessment one year later (FFQ2). Of these, 100 participants also completed a three-day food record to evaluate the validity of the FFQ for 38 nutrients (energy, 14 macronutrients, 22 micronutrients, and 1 bioactive). Analyses were also stratified between the two major ethnic groups (Caucasian and East Asian). RESULTS: Among the full sample, mean intakes of most nutrients (27/38) did not differ significantly between estimates derived from FFQ2 compared to the three-day food record. Energy, sex, and ethnicity adjusted deattenuated Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.20 to 0.92 (mean r = 0.52 ± 0.15), and 34/38 validity coefficients were r ≥ 0.32. Gross misclassification of intakes between FFQ2 and the three-day food record was low (<6%), but energy, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and sodium were underestimated by FFQ2. Mean intakes between FFQ1 and FFQ2 did not differ significantly for any nutrient. Between the two major ethnic groups, mean validity coefficients were similar, but varied for individual nutrients with saturated fat, PUFA, and omega 3 being among the most discrepant. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to a three-day food record, the Toronto-modified Harvard FFQ is a reproducible and valid tool to estimate dietary intake among a multi-ethnic sample of young adults. However, incorporation of protocols to improve the assessment of culturally diverse diets should be considered.

An Algorithm to Predict the Lack of Pregnancy after Intrauterine Insemination in Infertile Patients.

Increasing intrauterine insemination (IUI) success rates is essential to improve the quality of care for infertile couples. Additionally, straight referral of couples with less probability of achieving a pregnancy through IUI to more complex methods such as in vitro fertilization is important to reduce costs and the time to pregnancy. The aim of the present study is to prospectively evaluate the threshold values for different parameters related to success in intrauterine insemination in order to provide better reproductive counseling to infertile couples, moreover, to generate an algorithm based on male and female parameters to predict whether the couple is suitable for achieving pregnancy using IUI. For that, one hundred ninety-seven infertile couples undergoing 409 consecutive cycles of intrauterine insemination during a two-year period were included. The first year served as a definition of the parameters and thresholds related to pregnancy achievement, while the second year was used to validate the consistency of these parameters. Subsequently, those parameters that remained consistent throughout two years were included in a generalized estimating equation model (GEE) to determine their significance in predicting pregnancy achievement. Parameters significantly associated with the lack of pregnancy through IUI and included in the GEE were (p < 0.05): (i) male age > 41 years; (ii) ejaculate sperm count < 51.79 x 106 sperm; (iii) swim-up alkaline Comet > 59%; (iv) female body mass index > 45 kg/m2; (v) duration of infertility (>84 months), and (vi) basal LH levels > 27.28 mUI/mL. The application of these limits could provide a pregnancy prognosis to couples before undergoing intrauterine insemination, therefore avoiding it in couples with low chances of success. The retrospective application of these parameters to the same cohort of patients would have increased the pregnancy rate by up to 30%.

Chemical conjugation of aptamer-sphingomyelin nanosystems and their potential as inhibitors of tumour cell proliferation in breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease with a high mortality rate due to non-specific cytotoxicity, low intratumoral accumulation and drug resistance associated with the ineffectiveness of chemotherapy. In recent years, all efforts have been focused on finding new markers and therapeutic targets, protein kinase MNK1b being a promising candidate. Recently, an aptamer known as apMNK2F showed a highly specific interaction with this protein kinase, leading to a significant reduction in tumour cell proliferation, migration and colony formation. However, as aptamers are unable to penetrate the cell membrane and reach the target, these small biomolecules need to be conjugated to suitable vectors that can transport and protect them inside the cells. In this work, covalent conjugation between biocompatible and non-harmful nanoemulsions of vitamin E and sphingomyelin and the aptamer was performed to facilitate intracellular delivery of the therapeutic aptamer apMNK2F. All strategies employed were based on 2-step bioconjugation and optimized to get the simplest and most reproducible vehicle with the highest association efficiency (about 70% in all cases). The ability of the nanosystems to successfully deliver the conjugated therapeutic aptamer was demonstrated and compared to other commercial transfection agents such as Lipofectamine 2000, leading to an effective decrease of breast cancer cell proliferation in the MDA-MB-231 cell line. The proliferation inhibition of the aptamer nanoconjugates compared to the non-conjugated aptamer provides evidence that the antitumoral capacity derived from kinase interaction is improved in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, various experiments including cell migration and colony formation assays, along with apoptosis induction experiments, emphasize the significant antitumoral potential. Overall, the obtained results indicate that the developed formulation could be a promising therapy for the treatment of breast cancer.

Factors Associated with the Lifestyle of Pediatric Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The objective of this study was to analyze the association between sociodemographic and occupational variables with the lifestyle of health professionals in pediatric units during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 407 health professionals working in four pediatric health units in the State of Bahia, northeast Brazil. The Fantastic Lifestyle Questionnaire and a questionnaire with sociodemographic and employment variables self-applied via Google Forms were used. The final binary logistic regression models revealed significant associations between those who received 3 to 5 minimum wages, without a marital relationship and with more than one employment relationship. Data suggest that these sociodemographic and occupational profiles are more exposed to risky lifestyle behaviors. The findings of this study demonstrated the need for greater attention to the health of health professionals in the pediatric field, as well as the promotion of initiatives that seek to value the work of these professionals and reduce the damage caused to their lifestyle, especially in a pandemic scenario.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, but not GSTT1, genotype influences plasma proteomic profiles in Caucasian and East Asian young adults.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1 and T1 are major detoxifying enzymes that have been associated with a number of chronic diseases, but their effect on various physiological pathways remains unclear. We investigated the association between the common GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes and multiple disease-related high-abundance proteins of the plasma proteome in young Caucasian (n = 476) and East Asian (n = 352) adults. Overnight fasting blood samples were collected, and 54 high-abundance plasma proteins from several physiological pathways were quantified by mass spectrometry-based multiple reaction monitoring (LC-MRM/MS). Subjects were genotyped for GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms. Principal component analysis was used to identify proteomic profiles, and differences in individual protein concentrations between genotypes were assessed by ANCOVA. Among Caucasians, 19 proteins differed between GSTM1 genotypes (P < 0.05), with all protein concentrations being higher among the null genotypes. However, only complement C3 reached the Bonferroni-corrected significance threshold for multiple testing (P < 0.0009). Among East Asians, three proteins differed between GSTM1 genotypes (P < 0.05) with higher concentrations among the null genotypes, but none reached the Bonferroni level of significance. Protein concentrations did not differ between GSTT1 genotypes in either ethnicity. These findings suggest that GSTM1 may have novel physiological effects related to immunity and cardiometabolic disease.