Comparison between whole-body magnetic resonance imaging and whole-body metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in the evaluation of primary tumor and metastases in neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Whole-body metaiodobenzylguanidine (131 I-MIBG) scintigraphy is the gold standard method to detect neuroblastoma; however, it depends on radioactive material and is expensive. In contrast, whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is affordable in developing countries and has been shown to be effective in the evaluation of solid tumors. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of WB-MRI with MIBG in the detection of primary tumors and neuroblastoma metastases. PROCEDURE: This retrospective study enrolled patients with neuroblastoma between 2013 and 2020. All patients underwent WB-MRI and MIBG at intervals of up to 15 days. The results were marked in a table that discriminated anatomical regions for each patient. Two experts evaluated, independently and in anonymity, the WB-MRI images, and two others evaluated MIBG. The results were compared in terms of sensitivity and specificity, for each patient, considering MIBG as the gold standard. This study was approved by the UNIFESP Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Thirty patients with neuroblastoma were enrolled in this study. The age ranged from 1 to 15 years, with a mean of 5.7 years. The interval between exams (WB-MRI and MIBG) ranged from 1 to 13 days, with an average of 6.67 days. Compared to MIBG, WB-MRI presented a sensitivity and specificity greater than or equal to 90% for the detection of primary neuroblastoma in bones and lymph nodes. When we consider the patient without individualizing the anatomical regions, WB-MRI presented sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 73.33%. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, WB-MRI is a sensitive and specific method to detect neuroblastoma in bone and lymph nodes and highly sensible to primary tumor diagnosis, suggesting that this test is a viable alternative in places where MIBG is difficult to access. Studies with a larger number of cases are necessary for definitive conclusions.

How can the built environment affect the impact of autonomous vehicles' operational behaviour on air quality?

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are pointed out as the technology that will reshape the concept of mobility, with significant implications for the economy, the environment, and society. This fact will bring new challenge to cities urban planning. Research to anticipate the AVs impacts, maximizing their benefits and reduce trade-offs are currently crucial. This work investigates the potential challenges and benefits of gradually replace internal combustion engine human driven vehicles with different penetration rates of AVs - 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, and 100% - in urban roads of different characteristics, either in terms of traffic singularities or volumes, and its related implications on air quality. For that purpose, two urban areas with distinct features, Porto and Aveiro, were selected as case studies, and a modelling setup composed of a traffic model, an emission model, and a local air quality model was applied. The results revealed that the AVs benefits are directly linked with the urban design and the road characteristics. In the Aveiro case study, the AVs promoted positive changes with average reductions in daily NOx emissions (compared with the baseline scenario, without AVs) ranging between -2.1% (for C10%) and -7.7% (for C100%). In line with the emissions impacts, positive effects were found on air quality, with average reductions of NO2 concentrations up to -4% (for C100%). In Porto urban area, slight differences in NOx emissions were obtained (<2%), which implied no changes in the air quality levels. The distinct impact of AVs in the study areas is mostly explained by the traffic light coordination system and directional split distributions in the main roads. These results provide valuable insights to support decision-makers in the definition of strategies that allow the integration of these new emerging technologies in the road infrastructure, considering the features of the urban design, traffic profile and road characteristics.

Modelling of Temperature-Attributable Mortality among the Elderly in Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal: A Contribution to Local Strategy for Effective Prevention Plans.

Epidemiological studies on the impact of determining environmental factors on human health have proved that temperature extremes and variability constitute mortality risk factors. However, few studies focus specifically on susceptible individuals living in Portuguese urban areas. This study aimed to estimate and assess the health burden of temperature-attributable mortality among age groups (0-64 years; 65-74 years; 75-84 years; and 85+ years) in Lisbon Metropolitan Area, from 1986-2015. Non-linear and delayed exposure-lag-response relationships between temperature and mortality were fitted with a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM). In general, the adverse effects of cold and hot temperatures on mortality were greater in the older age groups, presenting a higher risk during the winter season. We found that, for all ages, 10.7% (95% CI: 9.3-12.1%) deaths were attributed to cold temperatures in the winter, and mostly due to moderately cold temperatures, 7.0% (95% CI: 6.2-7.8%), against extremely cold temperatures, 1.4% (95% CI: 0.9-1.8%). When stratified by age, people aged 85+ years were more burdened by cold temperatures (13.8%, 95% CI: 11.5-16.0%). However, for all ages, 5.6% of deaths (95% CI: 2.7-8.4%) can be attributed to hot temperatures. It was observed that the proportion of deaths attributed to exposure to extreme heat is higher than moderate heat. As with cold temperatures, people aged 85+ years are the most vulnerable age group to heat, 8.4% (95% CI: 3.9%, 2.7%), and mostly due to extreme heat, 1.3% (95% CI: 0.8-1.8%). These results provide new evidence on the health burdens associated with alert thresholds, and they can be used in early warning systems and adaptation plans.

Technical Choices in Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantation: The Path to Reduce Vascular Complications and Improve Survival.

Pediatric living donor liver transplantation (PLDLT) is a successful therapeutic option for children with chronic and acute liver disease. After early transplant results, many technical advancements were introduced in the field to reduce the rate of complications and improve survival. The aim of this study is to present the outcomes of 975 primary PLDLTs in 3 periods: initial practice (period 1, 29 patients, January 1995 to December 1999), second period (period 2, 331 patients, January 2000 to December 2009), and third period (period 3 [P3], 615 patients, January 2010 to September 2019). Among the technical refinements introduced in P3 are the use of hyperreduced left lateral segment grafts, abdominal wall prosthetic mesh closure, double hepatic artery anastomosis, and increased use of vascular grafts for portal vein reconstruction. The outcomes included significant reductions of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), early portal vein thrombosis (EPVT), and retransplantation, with better patient and graft survival in P3. Additional analyses showed that the factors independently associated with worse 90-day patient survival were HAT, EPVT, and increasing Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease score. In conclusion, the introduction of technical refinements in P3, in addition to improvements in patient care, determined a reduction in EPVT, HAT, and retransplantation. Consequently, patient and graft survival rates increased in all time points studied.

Modelling climate change impacts on attributable-related deaths and demographic changes in the largest metropolitan area in Portugal: A time-series analysis.

Previous studies have consistently analyzed the impact that extreme temperatures will have on human health. However, there are very few data on temperature-related mortality burden considering future demographic changes in a context of climate change in Portugal. This study aims to quantify the impact of climate change on heat-, cold-, and net change mortality burdens, taking into account the future demographic changes in Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. We applied a time-series generalized linear model with a quasi-Poisson model via a distributed lag nonlinear model to project temperature-related mortality burden for two climatological scenarios: a present (or reference, 1986-2005) scenario and a future scenario (2046-2065), in this case the Representative Concentration Pathway RCP8.5, which reflects the worst set of expectations (with the most onerous impacts). The results show that the total attributable fraction due to temperature, extreme and moderate cold, is statistically significant in the historical period and the future projected scenarios, while extreme and moderate heat were only significant in the projected future summer period. Net differences were attributed to moderate cold in the future winter months. Projections show a consistent and significant increase in future heat-related mortality burden. The attributable fraction due to heat in the future period, compared to the historical period, ranges from 0 to 1.5% for moderate heat and from 0 to 0.5% for extreme heat. Adaptation should be implemented at the local level, so as to prevent and diminish the effects on citizens and healthcare services, in a context of climate change.

Multiple Bacteria Identification in the Point-of-Care: an Old Method Serving a New Approach.

The accurate diagnosis of bacterial infections is of critical importance for effective treatment decisions. Due to the multietiologic nature of most infectious diseases, multiplex assays are essential for diagnostics. However, multiplexability in nucleic acid amplification-based methods commonly resorts to multiple primers and/or multiple reaction chambers, which increases analysis cost and complexity. Herein, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) offer method based on a universal pair of primers and an array of specific oligonucleotide probes was developed through the analysis of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The detection system consisted of DNA hybridization over an array of magnetoresistive sensors in a microfabricated biochip coupled to an electronic reader. Immobilized probes interrogated single-stranded biotinylated amplicons and were obtained using asymmetric PCR. Moreover, they were magnetically labelled with streptavidin-coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles. The benchmarking of the system was demonstrated to detect five major bovine mastitis-causing pathogens: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, and Streptococcus agalactiae. All selected probes proved to specifically detect their respective amplicon without significant cross reactivity. A calibration curve was performed for S. agalactiae, which demonstrates demonstrating a limit of detection below 30 fg/µL. Thus, a sensitive and specific multiplex detection assay was established, demonstrating its potential as a bioanalytical device for point-of-care applications.

Bootstrap approach to validate the performance of models for predicting mortality risk temperature in Portuguese Metropolitan Areas.

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing interest in assessing the impacts of extreme temperatures on mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system. This is further relevant for future climate scenarios where marked changes in climate are expected. This paper presents a solid method do identify the relationship between extreme temperatures and mortality risk by using as predictors simulated temperature data for cold and hot conditions in two urban areas in Portugal. METHODS: Based on the mortality and meteorological data from Porto Metropolitan Area (PMA) and Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA), a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was implemented to estimate the temperature effects on mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system. The performance of the models was validated via bootstrapping approaching by creating resamples with replacement from the validating data. Bootstrapping was also used to identify the best candidate model and to evaluate the sensitivity of the spline functions to the exposure-lag-response relationship. RESULTS: It is found that the model is able to reproduce the temperature-related mortality risk for two metropolitan areas. Temperature previously simulated by climate models is useful and even better than observed temperature. Although, the biases in predictions in both metropolitan areas are low, mortality risk predictions in PMA are more accurate than in LMA. Using parametric bootstrapping, we found that the overall cumulative association estimated under different bi-dimensional exposure-lag-response relationship are relatively stable, especially for the model selected by Quasi-Akaike Information Criteria (QAIC). Exposure to summer temperature conditions is best related to mortality risk. The association between winter temperature and mortality risk is somewhat less strong. CONCLUSIONS: The use of QAIC to choose from several candidate models provides valid predictions and reduced the uncertainty in the estimated relative risk for circulatory disease mortality. Our findings can be applied to better understand the characteristics and facilitate the prevention of circulatory disease mortality in Porto and Lisbon Metropolitan Areas, namely if we consider the actual context of climate change.

Effects of extreme temperatures on cerebrovascular mortality in Lisbon: a distributed lag non-linear model.

Cerebrovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality in Portugal, especially when related with extreme temperatures. This study highlights the impacts of the exposure-response relationship or lagged effect of low and high temperatures on cerebrovascular mortality, which can be important to reduce the health burden from cerebrovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of weather on cerebrovascular mortality, measured by ambient temperature in the District of Lisbon, Portugal. A quasi-Poisson generalized additive model combined with a distributed lag non-linear model was applied to estimate the delayed effects of temperature on cerebrovascular mortality up to 30 days. With reference to minimum mortality temperature threshold of 22 °C, there was a severe risk (RR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.74, 2.51) of mortality for a 30-day-cumulative exposure to extreme cold temperatures of 7.3 °C (1st percentile). Similarly, the cumulative effect of a 30-day exposure to an extreme hot temperature of 30 °C (99th percentile) was 52% (RR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.37, 1.98) higher than same-day exposure. Over the 13 years of study, non-linear effects of temperature on mortality were identified, and the probability of dying from cerebrovascular disease in Lisbon was 7% higher in the winter than in the summer. The findings of this study provide a baseline for future public health prevention programs on weather-related mortality.

Risk indicators for Peri-implantitis. A cross-sectional study with 916 implants.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify systemic and local risk indicators associated with peri-implantitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred eighty-three patients treated with 916 osseointegrated titanium implants, in function for at least 1 year, were included in the present study. The implants were installed at the Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development of Dentistry (FUNDECTO) - University of Sao Paulo (USP) - from 1998 to 2012. Factors related to patient's systemic conditions (heart disorders, hypertension, smoking habits, alcoholism, liver disorders, hepatitis, gastrointestinal disease, diabetes mellitus I and II, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, menopause, osteoporosis, active periodontal disease, history of periodontal disease and bruxism), implant's characteristics (location, diameter, length, connection, shape, and antagonist), and clinical parameters (wear facets, periodontal status on the adjacent tooth, plaque accumulation on the adjacent tooth, modified plaque index, sulcus bleeding index, probing depth, bleeding on probing, width of keratinized tissue and marginal recession). RESULTS: An increased risk of 2.2 times for history of periodontal disease (PD), 3.6 times for cemented restorations compared to screw-retained prostheses, 2.4 times when wear facets were displayed on the prosthetic crown and 16.1 times for total rehabilitations when compared to single rehabilitations were found. Logistic regression analysis did not show any association between the implant's characteristics and peri-implantitis. CONCLUSIONS: A history of periodontal disease, cemented prostheses, presences of wear facets on the prosthetic crown and full mouth rehabilitations were identified as risk indicators for peri-implantitis. Implants' characteristics were not related to the presence of peri-implantitis.

Taxonomic status and origin of the Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) inferred from mitochondrial DNA.

The Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) is a small mustelid with a distribution restricted to the lower Nile Valley and the Nile Delta. Traditionally considered a subspecies of the least weasel (M. nivalis), it is currently recognized as a separate species based on morphology. Here we present the first genetic assessment of the taxonomic status of the Egyptian weasel by comparing mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b gene and control region) sequences to those of least weasels from the western Palearctic, with a focus on the Mediterranean region. Our results provide no evidence to support the view that the Egyptian weasel is genetically distinct from the least weasel, as we found that, for both Cytochrome b and control region, haplotypes were shared between the two taxa. Specifically, the Cytochrome b and control region haplotypes detected in the Egyptian weasel were also present in M. nivalis from Turkey and Malta, two populations genetically analysed here for the first time. Our results suggest that the Egyptian weasel is distinct from the least weasel populations currently living in the Maghreb, which were inferred to be the result of an earlier colonization of North Africa, but the genetic data alone do not allow us to determine whether the Egyptian weasel is native or introduced. Nevertheless, the observed genetic patterns, together with the weasel fossil record in Israel and the unique commensal lifestyle of the Egyptian weasel, are consistent with the hypothesis that the Egyptian population is a relict of past range expansion from the Levant into Egypt. We suggest that the large size and characteristic sexual dimorphism of the Egyptian weasel are likely to represent ecotypic variation, but genomic studies are required to clarify the extent of its functional genetic divergence.

Attenuated aortic vasodilation and sympathetic prejunctional facilitation in epinephrine-deficient mice: selective impairment of ß2-adrenoceptor responses.

It has been suggested that there is a link between epinephrine synthesis and the development of ß2-adrenoceptor-mediated effects, but it remains to be determined whether this development is triggered by epinephrine. The aim of this study was to characterize ß-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation and facilitation of norepinephrine release in the aorta of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase-knockout (Pnmt-KO) mice. Catecholamines were quantified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection. Aortic rings were mounted in a myograph to determine concentration-response curves to selective ß1- or ß2-adrenoceptor agonists in the absence or presence of selective ß1- or ß2-adrenoceptor antagonists. Aortic rings were also preincubated with [(3)H]norepinephrine to measure tritium overflow elicited by electrical stimulation in the presence of increasing concentrations of nonselective ß- or selective ß2-adrenoceptor agonists. ß2-Adrenoceptor protein density was evaluated by Western blotting and ß2-adrenoceptor localization by immunohistochemistry. Epinephrine is absent in Pnmt-KO mice. The potency and the maximal effect of the ß2-adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline were lower in Pnmt-KO than in wild-type (WT) mice. The selective ß2-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118,551 [(±)-erythro-(S*,S*)-1-[2,3-(dihydro-7-methyl-1H-inden-4-yl)oxy]-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-butanol hydrochloride] antagonized the relaxation caused by terbutaline in WT but not in Pnmt-KO mice. Isoproterenol and terbutaline induced concentration-dependent increases in tritium overflow in WT mice only. ß2-Adrenoceptor protein density was decreased in membrane aorta homogenates of Pnmt-KO mice, and this finding was supported by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. In conclusion, epinephrine is crucial for ß2-adrenoceptor-mediated vasodilation and facilitation of norepinephrine release. In the absence of epinephrine, ß2-adrenoceptor protein density was decreased in aorta cell membranes, thus potentially hindering its functional activity.

Site-related differences in gene expression and bacterial densities in the mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus from the Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike deep-sea hydrothermal vent sites.

The deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus is a symbiont bearing bivalve that is found in great abundance at the Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent sites and in close vicinity of the Azores region near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). The physiological relationships that vent mussels have developed with their physical and chemical environments are likely to influence global gene expression profiles providing thus the means to investigate distinct biological markers predicting the origin of Bathymodiolus sp. irrespectively of their geographical localization. Differences found at gene expression levels, and between fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing results provided experimental evidence for the distinction of both Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike vent mussel individuals based on bacterial and vent mussel gene expression signatures and on the constitutive distribution and relative abundance of endosymbiotic bacteria within gill tissues. Our results confirmed the presence of methanotroph endosymbionts in Menez Gwen vent mussels whereas Lucky Strike specimens seem to harbor a different bacterial morphotype when a methane monooxygenase gene specific probe was used. No qualitative differences could be visualized between Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike individuals when tested with a sulfur-oxidizing-related probe. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) studies revealed different gene expression profiles in both Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike mussel gill tissues for the immune genes selected. Genes encoding transcription factors presented noticeably low levels of fold expression whether in Menez Gwen or Lucky Strike animals whereas the genes encoding effector molecules appeared to have higher levels expression in gill tissues from Menez Gwen animals. The peptidoglycan recognition molecule encoding gene, PGRP, presented the highest level of transcriptional activity among the genes analyzed in Menez Gwen mussel gill tissues, seconded by carcinolectin and thus denoting the relevance of immune recognition molecules in early stage of the immune responses onset. Genes regarded as encoding molecules involved in signaling pathways were consistently expressed in both Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike mussel gill tissues. Remarkably, the immunity-related GTPase encoding gene demonstrated, in Lucky Strike samples, the highest level of expression among the signaling molecule encoding genes tested when expressions levels were compared between Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike animals. A differential expression analysis of bacterial genes between Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike mussels indicated a clear expression signature in the latter animal gill tissues. The bacterial community structure ensued from the 16S rRNA sequencing analyses pointed at an unpredicted conservation of endosymbiont bacterial loads between Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike samples. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that B. azoricus exhibits different transcriptional statuses while living in distinct hydrothermal vent sites may result in distinct gene expressions because of physico-chemical and/or symbiont densities differences.

The Planetary Health Diet and Its Association with Asthma and Airway Inflammation in School-Aged Children.

Poor dietary choices have been rising concurrently with an increase in asthma prevalence, especially in children. Dietary indexes that simultaneously measure the healthiness and sustainability of dietary patterns have emerged to address the dual concerns of human and planetary health. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate adherence to a sustainable dietary pattern and its impact on airway inflammation and asthma. In this study, 660 school-aged children (49.1% females, 7-12 years) were considered. A cross-sectional analysis was performed to assess the association between diet and asthma and airway inflammation according to overweight/obesity. Diet was evaluated through the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI). Higher scores represent a healthier and more sustainable diet. Three definitions of asthma were considered based on a self-reported medical diagnosis, symptoms, asthma medication, measured lung function, and airway reversibility. Airway inflammation was assessed by exhaled fractional nitric oxide (eNO). We considered two categories of body mass index: non-overweight/non-obese and overweight/obese. The associations between diet with asthma and airway inflammation were estimated using adjusted binary logistic regressions. The odds of having airway inflammation decreased with the increase in PHDI score. Moreover, children in the non-overweight/non-obesity group in the fourth quartile of the PHDI had lower odds of having airway inflammation compared to children in the first quartile. Our study indicates that a healthier and sustainable diet is associated with lower levels of eNO, but only among children without overweight/obesity.

Association between Urinary Sodium Excretion and Body Fat in School-Aged Children: Insights from the ARIA Study.

Childhood obesity has been associated with increased sodium intake. Nonetheless, evidence linking sodium intake to Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Mass Percentage (%BF) remains limited, especially in the pediatric age group. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether there is an association between 24 h urinary sodium excretion with BMI and %BF in a sample group of children from the ARIA study. This cross-sectional analysis included 303 children aged 7 to 12 from across 20 public schools in Porto, Portugal. Weight and %BF were assessed using the Tanita™ BC-418 Segmental Body Analyzer. Children's Total Energy Intake (TEI) was estimated through a single 24 h Recall Questionnaire, and urinary sodium and potassium excretion was estimated by a 24 h urine collection. The association of %BF and BMI with 24 h sodium excretion was estimated by a binary logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, physical activity, total energy intake, parental education, and 24 h urinary excreted potassium. There was a significant positive association between higher levels of urinary sodium excretion and higher %BF values, even after adjusting for confounders. However, the same was not observed for BMI. Our findings suggest that higher sodium intake is associated with higher values of %BF among children, regardless of TEI and potassium intake.

Food Insecurity and Nutritional Inadequacy in Children and Adolescents of Basic Education Schools of Cantagalo District in São Tomé and Príncipe, Central Africa.

Food insecurity (FI) is a critical socioeconomic and public health problem globally, particularly affecting children's nutritional status and development. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of nutritional inadequacy among children and adolescents in the Cantagalo district of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP), in Central Africa. It also assessed their households' FI situation and examined sociodemographic, anthropometric, and nutritional characteristics associated with severe FI. Data included 546 children/adolescents (51.8% males, aged 9-15 years) from the eight public basic education schools. A structured questionnaire provided sociodemographic data, while anthropometric measurements assessed nutritional status. Dietary intake data were gathered using a single 24 h dietary recall, and the adjusted prevalences of nutritional inadequacy were obtained using version 2.0 of the PC-Software for Intake Distribution Estimation (PC-SIDE®). The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale was used to assess FI, and households were classified as severely or non-severely food insecure. Multivariable binary logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders identified factors related to FI. Children's/adolescents' thinness was exhibited in 34.1% of participants, and over 95% had inadequate intake of essential micronutrients, including iron. Notably, 73.7% were severely food insecure. A higher severity of FI was positively associated with a lower intake of iron and certain household head characteristics, such as being female or older, and negatively associated with having a home garden.

Efficacy and safety of guttiferone E in melanoma-bearing mice.

Melanoma, an aggressive and potentially fatal skin cancer, is constrained by immunosuppression, resistance, and high toxicity in its treatment. Consequently, there is an urgent need for innovative antineoplastic agents. Therefore, this study investigated the antimelanoma potential of guttiferone E (GE). In an allogeneic murine B16 melanoma model, GE was administered subcutaneously and intraperitoneally. Antitumor evaluation included tumor volume/weight measurements and histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, the toxicity of the treatments was evaluated through body/organ weights, biochemical parameters, and genotoxicity. Subcutaneous administration of 20 mg/kg of GE resulted in a significant reduction in both tumor volume and weight, effectively suppressing melanoma cell proliferation as evidenced by a decrease in mitotic figures. The tumor growth inhibition rate was equivalent to 54%. This treatment upregulated cleaved caspase-3, indicating apoptosis induction. On the other hand, intraperitoneal administration of GE showed no antimelanoma effect. Remarkably, GE treatments exhibited no toxicity, evidenced by non-significant differences in body weight gain, as well as organ weight, biochemical parameters of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, and genotoxic damage. This study revealed, for the first time, the efficacy of subcutaneous administration of GE in reducing melanoma, in the absence of toxicity. Furthermore, it was observed that the apoptotic signaling pathway is involved in the antimelanoma property of GE. These findings offer valuable insights for further exploring GE's therapeutic applications in melanoma treatment.

Mediterranean Diet and Airway Inflammation in School-Aged Children.

There seems to exist an intricate relationship between airway inflammation, body mass index (BMI), and diet. The intake of specific foods or food groups has been suggested to suppress the oxidative stress and inflammatory processes that characterize airway inflammation, but little is known about dietary patterns and their complex interplay with BMI and airway inflammation. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), a characteristic European diet, and levels of airway inflammation in school-aged children, taking into account their BMI. This cross-sectional analysis comprised 660 children: 49.1% females, 7-12 years old. Adherence to the MD was assessed through the alternate Mediterranean score (aMED). Higher scores represent a healthier diet (0-8). Airway inflammation was assessed measuring exhaled fractional nitric oxide (eNO). Two categories of BMI were considered: non-overweight/non-obese (p < 85th) and overweight/obese (p ≥ 85th). The associations between diet and airway inflammation were estimated using logistic regression models. Higher scores of the aMED were associated with decreased odds of having eNO ≥ 35 ppb, but only in non-overweight/non-obese children (OR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.97). For overweight/obese children, the previous association was not significant (OR = 1.57, 95% CI, 0.88-2.79). Our findings suggest that adherence to the MD is associated with lower levels of airway inflammation among non-overweight/non-obese children.

Diet Quality and Exhaled Breath Condensate Markers in a Sample of School-Aged Children.

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) analysis is a recently developed, non-invasive method used to identify and quantify biomarkers, mainly those coming from the lower respiratory tract. It seems that diet can influence the airway's inflammation and change the exhaled breath composition. This study aimed to assess the association between diet quality intake and markers in EBC among school-aged children. A cross-sectional analysis included 150 children (48.3% females, aged 7-12 years, mean age: 8.7 ± 0.8 years) from 20 schools across Porto, Portugal. We assessed diet quality through the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, which was estimated based on a single 24 h food recall questionnaire. EBC samples were collected, and we assessed their ionic content (Na+, K+) and conductivity. The association between diet quality and Na+, K+, Na+/K+ ratio and conductivity was estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. After adjustment, a higher quality diet score increases the odds of higher conductivity values of the EBC (aOR = 1.04, 95%CI 1.00; 1.08). Our findings suggest that a higher diet quality in school-aged children is associated with higher conductivity levels of the EBC.

Does the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Promote Lower Sodium Urinary Excretion in Children?

An adequate sodium intake is related to various health benefits. Parallelly, the Mediterranean diet (MD) is a dietary pattern known for its many positive impacts on health. Nonetheless, the association between adherence to the MD and sodium urinary excretion is scarce, even more in children. This study aimed to assess the association between MD adherence and the excretion of sodium, as a proxy of intake. This cross-sectional analysis comprised 295 children (46.8% females, aged 7-11 years, mean age: 8.53 ± 0.73 years) from 20 schools within Porto, Portugal. MD adherence was evaluated utilizing the alternate Mediterranean score (aMED). Higher scores denote a healthier dietary pattern (0-8). Sodium excretion was estimated by 24-h urine collection. The association between adherence to MD and Na excretion was estimated by logistic regression, adjusting for confounders. Children in the higher sodium excretion group had a higher intake of legumes, a higher body mass index and parents with lower education levels compared to children in the lower sodium excretion group. In logistic regression analysis, sodium urinary excretion was not associated with higher MD adherence, even after adjustment for confounders. High MD adherence could not be associated with lower sodium excretion in children.