How different attributes are weighted in professionals' decision-making in Pediatric Dentistry-a protocol for guiding discrete choice experiment focused on shortening the evidence-based practice implementation for dental care.

BACKGROUND: Important evidence has been constantly produced and needs to be converted into practice. Professional consumption of such evidence may be a barrier to its implementation. Then, effective implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinical practice leans on the understanding of how professionals value attributes when choosing between options for dental care, permitting to guide this implementation process by maximizing strengthens and minimizing barriers related to that. METHODS: This is part of a broader project investigating the potential of incorporating scientific evidence into clinical practice and public policy recommendations and guidelines, identifying strengths and barriers in such an implementation process. The present research protocol comprises a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) from the Brazilian oral health professionals' perspective, aiming to assess how different factors are associated with professional decision-making in dental care, including the role of scientific evidence. Different choice sets will be developed, either focusing on understanding the role of scientific evidence in the professional decision-making process or on understanding specific attributes associated with different interventions recently tested in randomized clinical trials and available as newly produced scientific evidence to be used in clinical practice. DISCUSSION: Translating research into practice usually requires time and effort. Shortening this process may be useful for faster incorporation into clinical practice and beneficial to the population. Understanding the context and professionals' decision-making preferences is crucial to designing more effective implementation and/or educational initiatives. Ultimately, we expect to design an efficient implementation strategy that overcomes threats and potential opportunities identified during the DCEs, creating a customized structure for dental professionals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://osf.io/bhncv .

Selection of Bis-Indolyl Pyridines and Triphenylamines as New Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Cellular Entry by Modulating the Spike Protein/ACE2 Interfaces.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the infectious agent that has caused the current coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic. Viral infection relies on the viral S (spike) protein/cellular receptor ACE2 interaction. Disrupting this interaction would lead to early blockage of viral replication. To identify chemical tools to further study these functional interfaces, 139,146 compounds from different chemical libraries were screened through an S/ACE2 in silico virtual molecular model. The best compounds were selected for further characterization using both cellular and biochemical approaches, reiterating SARS-CoV-2 entry and the S/ACE2 interaction. We report here two selected hits, bis-indolyl pyridine AB-00011778 and triphenylamine AB-00047476. Both of these compounds can block the infectivity of lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with the SARS-CoV-2 S protein as well as wild-type and circulating variant SARS-CoV-2 strains in various human cell lines, including pulmonary cells naturally susceptible to infection. AlphaLISA and biolayer interferometry confirmed a direct inhibitory effect of these drugs on the S/ACE2 association. A specific study of the AB-00011778 inhibitory properties showed that this drug inhibits viral replication with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) between 0.1 and 0.5 µM depending on the cell lines. Molecular docking calculations of the interaction parameters of the molecules within the S/ACE2 complex from both wild-type and circulating variants of the virus showed that the molecules may target multiple sites within the S/ACE2 interface. Our work indicates that AB-00011778 constitutes a good tool for modulating this interface and a strong lead compound for further therapeutic purposes.

Investigating spray flames for nanoparticle synthesis via tomographic imaging using multi-simultaneous measurements (TIMes) of emission.

Tomographic imaging using multi-simultaneous measurements (TIMes) of spontaneous light emission was performed on various operating conditions of the SpraySyn burner to analyse the flame morphology and its potential impact on spray flame pyrolysis. Concurrent instantaneous and time-averaged three-dimensional measurements of CH* chemiluminescence (flame front indicator) and atomic Na emission from NaCl dissolved in the injected combustible liquid (related to hot burnt products of the spray flame) were reconstructed employing a 29-camera setup. Overlapping regions of CH* and Na are presented using isosurface visualisation, local correlation coefficient fields and joint probability distributions. The instantaneous results reveal the complex nature of the reacting flow and regions of interaction between the flame front with the hot gases that originate from the spray stream. The averaged reconstructions show that the spray flames tested are slightly asymmetric near the burner exit but develop into symmetric bell-shaped distributions at downstream locations. The changes in the flame structure for different operating conditions are analysed in light of previous studies, helping in the better understanding of the nanoparticle synthesis process. Furthermore, the importance of using measurements from two views for significantly improved alignment of the burner based on the originally proposed procedure are discussed in light of the reconstructions. This is an important aspect since the SpraySyn is intended for use as a well-defined standardised burner for nanoparticle synthesis, which is being investigated numerically and experimentally across different research groups.

Synthesis of Novel Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Rhodamine Conjugates and Their Ability for Sensing Cu2+ and Li.

The search for accurate and sensitive methods to detect chemical substances, namely cations and anions, is urgent and widely sought due to the enormous impact that some of these chemical species have on human health and on the environment. Here, we present a new platform for the efficient sensing of Cu2+ and Li+ cations. For this purpose, two novel photoactive diketopyrrolopyrrole-rhodamine conjugates were synthesized through the condensation of a diketopyrrolopyrrole dicarbaldehyde with rhodamine B hydrazide. The resulting chemosensors 1 and 2, bearing one or two rhodamine hydrazide moieties, respectively, were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry, and their photophysical and ion-responsive behaviours were investigated via absorption and fluorescence measurements. Chemosensors 1 and 2 displayed a rapid colorimetric response upon the addition of Cu2+, with a remarkable increase in the absorbance and fluorescence intensities. The addition of other metal ions caused no significant effects. Moreover, the resulting chemosensor-Cu2+ complexes revealed to be good probes for the sensing of Li+ with reversibility and low detection limits. The recognition ability of the new chemosensors was investigated by absorption and fluorescence titrations and competitive studies.

Databases for the study of biofilms: current status and potential applications.

Biofilms play an important role in health, being associated with >80% of all microbial infections in the body and in the development of antibiotic resistance. Research in this field has continuously produced large volumes of data. Being able to handle all this information will be paramount for progress in this field. However, this places a heavy burden on the development of strategies to gather, organize and make this information available in a way that can be readily and effectively used by those requiring it. Lately, efforts towards this goal have been reported, particularly with the development of Quorumpeps, BiofOmics, BaAMPs, QSPpred, dPABBs, aBiofilm and the Biofilms Structural Database. This work reviews these databases and highlights their applicability and potential, while stressing some of the challenges for the coming years in database development and usage brought about by the use of big data and machine learning.

Identification of New Potential Inhibitors of Quorum Sensing through a Specialized Multi-Level Computational Approach.

Biofilms are aggregates of microorganisms anchored to a surface and embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances and have been associated with 80% of all bacterial infections in humans. Because bacteria in biofilms are less amenable to antibiotic treatment, biofilms have been associated with developing antibiotic resistance, a problem that urges developing new therapeutic options and approaches. Interfering with quorum-sensing (QS), an important process of cell-to-cell communication by bacteria in biofilms is a promising strategy to inhibit biofilm formation and development. Here we describe and apply an in silico computational protocol for identifying novel potential inhibitors of quorum-sensing, using CviR-the quorum-sensing receptor from Chromobacterium violaceum-as a model target. This in silico approach combines protein-ligand docking (with 7 different docking programs/scoring functions), receptor-based virtual screening, molecular dynamic simulations, and free energy calculations. Particular emphasis was dedicated to optimizing the discrimination ability between active/inactive molecules in virtual screening tests using a target-specific training set. Overall, the optimized protocol was used to evaluate 66,461 molecules, including those on the ZINC/FDA-Approved database and to the Mu.Ta.Lig Virtual Chemotheca. Multiple promising compounds were identified, yielding good prospects for future experimental validation and for drug repurposing towards QS inhibition.

In Silico Identification of Possible Inhibitors for Protein Kinase B (PknB) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

With tuberculosis still being one of leading causes of death in the world and the emergence of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), researchers have been seeking to find further therapeutic strategies or more specific molecular targets. PknB is one of the 11 Ser/Thr protein kinases of Mtb and is responsible for phosphorylation-mediated signaling, mainly involved in cell wall synthesis, cell division and metabolism. With the amount of structural information available and the great interest in protein kinases, PknB has become an attractive target for drug development. This work describes the optimization and application of an in silico computational protocol to find new PknB inhibitors. This multi-level computational approach combines protein-ligand docking, structure-based virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations. The optimized protocol was applied to screen a large dataset containing 129,650 molecules, obtained from the ZINC/FDA-Approved database, Mu.Ta.Lig Virtual Chemotheca and Chimiothèque Nationale. It was observed that the most promising compounds selected occupy the adenine-binding pocket in PknB, and the main interacting residues are Leu17, Val26, Tyr94 and Met155. Only one of the compounds was able to move the active site residues into an open conformation. It was also observed that the P-loop and magnesium position loops change according to the characteristics of the ligand. This protocol led to the identification of six compounds for further experimental testing while also providing additional structural information for the design of more specific and more effective derivatives.

Spectrum of genes for inherited hearing loss in the Israeli Jewish population, including the novel human deafness gene ATOH1.

Mutations in more than 150 genes are responsible for inherited hearing loss, with thousands of different, severe causal alleles that vary among populations. The Israeli Jewish population includes communities of diverse geographic origins, revealing a wide range of deafness-associated variants and enabling clinical characterization of the associated phenotypes. Our goal was to identify the genetic causes of inherited hearing loss in this population, and to determine relationships among genotype, phenotype, and ethnicity. Genomic DNA samples from informative relatives of 88 multiplex families, all of self-identified Jewish ancestry, with either non-syndromic or syndromic hearing loss, were sequenced for known and candidate deafness genes using the HEar-Seq gene panel. The genetic causes of hearing loss were identified for 60% of the families. One gene was encountered for the first time in human hearing loss: ATOH1 (Atonal), a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor responsible for autosomal dominant progressive hearing loss in a five-generation family. Our results show that genomic sequencing with a gene panel dedicated to hearing loss is effective for genetic diagnoses in a diverse population. Comprehensive sequencing enables well-informed genetic counseling and clinical management by medical geneticists, otolaryngologists, audiologists, and speech therapists and can be integrated into newborn screening for deafness.

A rare case of deafness and renal abnormalities in HDR syndrome caused by a de novo mutation in the GATA3 gene.

HDR syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the GATA3 gene and characterized by hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness and renal abnormalities. Here we report a Brazilian family, from which the proband, his mother and his grandfather were diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Molecular screening of the GJB2, GJB6 and MTRNR1 genes in the proband showed no alterations; however, whole exome sequencing detected a heterozygous mutation, c.1099C > T (p.Arg367*), in the GATA3 gene. Segregation analyses showed that the mother also had the mutation, but not the grandparents, hence indicating a different hearing impairment type for the grandfather. Paternity test of the mother of the proband confirmed that she has a de novo mutation. Furthermore, HDR syndrome was confirmed with new clinical evaluations showing right kidney agenesis in the proband. This is the first study reporting only deafness and renal abnormalities as symptoms of the p.Arg367* mutation in the GATA3 gene, and also the sixth HDR syndrome case in the world, and the first on the American continent. Together with other reported cases, this study highlights the variability of HDR syndrome symptoms in individuals with the p.Arg367* mutation, emphasizing the importance of molecular analyses for correct diagnosis.

Optimization of a genotyping screening based on hydrolysis probes to detect the main mutations related to Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

PURPOSE: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial inherited disease characterized by bilateral vision problems, such as reduced visual acuity, dyschromatopsia, and central or centrocecal scotoma. Of these cases, 95% are caused by three mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): m.G11778A, followed by m.T14484C and m.G3460A. The remaining 5% of cases of LHON are caused by rare mutations also present in mtDNA. Although conventional molecular tools for molecular screening of LHON are becoming popular, in most cases these tools are still expensive and time-consuming and are difficult to reproduce. Therefore, to meet the need for more accurate, faster, and cheaper techniques for molecular screening, as well as make it more accessible, we used the high-throughput method TaqMan® OpenArray™ Genotyping platform for developing a customized high-throughput assay for the three main mutations related to LHON. METHODS: The assay was performed for 87 individuals diagnosed with LHON or acquired optic neuropathy of unknown origin. The three main mutations were screened using the customized assay with the TaqMan® OpenArray™ Genotyping platform, and all reactions were performed in triplicate. The positive and negative results were revalidated with restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR (RFLP-PCR) and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The main mutations related to LHON were detected in 34 patients with genotyping reactions, of which 27 cases had the m.G11778A mutation, and seven had the m.T14484C mutation. CONCLUSIONS: The TaqMan® OpenArray™ Genotyping platform was shown to be an effective tool for molecular screening of the most common mutations related to LHON without presenting false positive or negative results for the analyzed mutations. In addition, this tool can be considered a cheaper, faster, and more accurate alternative for molecular screening of LHON mutations than PCR and Sanger sequencing, as 94 genotyping reactions can be performed within 6 h and specific TaqMan probes are used.

Activity of Lower Limb Muscles During Squat With and Without Abdominal Drawing-in and Pilates Breathing.

Barbosa, AC, Martins, FM, Silva, AF, Coelho, AC, Intelangelo, L, and Vieira, ER. Activity of lower limb muscles during squat with and without abdominal drawing-in and Pilates breathing. J Strength Cond Res 31(11): 3018-3023, 2017-The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of abdominal drawing-in and Pilates breathing on the activity of lower limb muscles during squats. Adults (n = 13, 22 ± 3 years old) with some Pilates experience performed three 60° squats under each of the following conditions in a random order: (I) normal breathing, (II) drawing-in maneuver with normal breathing, and (III) drawing-in maneuver with Pilates breathing. Peak-normalized surface electromyography of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius medialis, and tibialis anterior during the knee flexion and extension phases of squat exercises was analyzed. There were significant differences among the conditions during the knee flexion phase for the rectus femoris (p = 0.001), biceps femoris (p = 0.038), and tibialis anterior (p = 0.001), with increasing activation from conditions I to III. For the gastrocnemius medialis, there were significant differences among the conditions during the knee extension phase (p = 0.023), with increased activity under condition I. The rectus and biceps femoris activity was higher during the extension vs. flexion phase under conditions I and II. The tibialis anterior activity was higher during the flexion compared with the extension phase under all conditions, and the medial gastrocnemius activity was higher during the extension phase under condition I. Doing squats with abdominal drawing-in and Pilates breathing resulted in increased rectus, biceps femoris, and tibialis anterior activity during the flexion phase, increasing movement stability during squat exercises.

Screening of genetic alterations related to non-syndromic hearing loss using MassARRAY iPLEX® technology.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in molecular genetics have enabled to determine the genetic causes of non-syndromic hearing loss, and more than 100 genes have been related to the phenotype. Due to this extraordinary genetic heterogeneity, a large percentage of patients remain without any molecular diagnosis. This condition imply the need for new methodological strategies in order to detect a greater number of mutations in multiple genes. In this work, we optimized and tested a panel of 86 mutations in 17 different genes screened using a high-throughput genotyping technology to determine the molecular etiology of hearing loss. METHODS: The technology used in this work was the MassARRAY iPLEX® platform. This technology uses silicon chips and DNA amplification products for accurate genotyping by mass spectrometry of previous reported mutations. The generated results were validated using conventional techniques, as direct sequencing, multiplex PCR and RFLP-PCR. RESULTS: An initial genotyping of control subjects, showed failures in 20 % of the selected alterations. To optimize these results, the failed tests were re-designed and new primers were synthesized. Then, the specificity and sensitivity of the panel demonstrated values above 97 %. Additionally, a group of 180 individuals with NSHL without a molecular diagnosis was screened to test the diagnostic value of our panel, and mutations were identified in 30 % of the cases. In 20 % of the individuals, it was possible to explain the etiology of the HL. Mutations in GJB2 gene were the most prevalent, followed by other mutations in in SLC26A4, CDH23, MT-RNR1, MYO15A, and OTOF genes. CONCLUSIONS: The MassARRAY technology has the potential for high-throughput identification of genetic variations. However, we demonstrated that optimization is required to increase the genotyping success and accuracy. The developed panel proved to be efficient and cost-effective, being suitable for applications involving the molecular diagnosis of hearing loss.

Protocol for in silico characterization of natural-based molecules as quorum-sensing inhibitors.

The search and development of new quorum-sensing (QS) inhibitors are ongoing processes for biofilm control. Here, we present a protocol for in silico characterization of natural-based molecules as QS inhibitors. We describe steps for preparing models of protein receptors for virtual screening. We then detail procedures for construction and virtual screening of phytochemical libraries and hit picking to be experimentally validated by in vitro assays. This protocol allows exploration of a broad range of potential inhibitors for a specific target. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Fernandes et al.1.

Analysis of hospital dental care for patients with special needs in Brazil.

This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the access of patients with special needs (PSN) in Brazilian municipalities to hospital dental care of the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS), based on data from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do SUS- SIH/SUS - SIH), from 2010 to 2018. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was performed; the Poisson regression was used to verify factors associated with the variable total number of hospitalization authorizations with the main procedure of dental treatment for PSN ("Total de Autorizações de Internação Hospitalar" - AIH), the Spearman correlation test with a significance level of 5% was used to characterize the relationships between the Municipal Human Development Index per municipality - (Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano Municipal - HDI) and the Oral Health Coverage in the Family Health Strategy by municipality (Cobertura de saúde bucal na estratégia saúde da família por município - SBSF Coverage), and the relationship of the AIH with SBSF Coverage. A total of 127,691 procedures were performed, of which 71,517 (56%) were clinical procedures, such as restorations, endodontic treatments, supra and subgingival scaling, among others. Municipalities in the Midwest (PR=5.117) and Southeast (RP = 4.443) regions had more precedures than the others. A weak correlation was found between AIH and SBSF Coverage (r = -0.2, p < 0.001) and HDI and SBSF Coverage (r = -0.074, p < 0.001). Population size, region, health coverage, oral hygiene, and number of dentists in hospitals affected the availability of dental procedures in PSN.

In silico-guided discovery and in vitro validation of novel sugar-tethered lysinated carbon nanotubes for targeted drug delivery of doxorubicin.

CONTEXT: Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalized with lysine via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and conjugated to galactose or mannose are potential nanocarriers that can effectively bind to the lectin receptor in MDA-MB-231 or MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In this work, a method based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to predict the interaction of these functionalized MWCNTs with doxorubicin and obtain structural evidence that allows a better understanding of the drug loading and release process. The MD simulations showed that while doxorubicin only interacted with pristine MWCNTs through π-π stacking interactions, functionalized MWCNTs were also able to establish hydrogen bonds, suggesting that the functionalized groups improve doxorubicin loading. Moreover, the elevated adsorption levels observed for functionalized nanotubes further support this enhancement in loading efficiency. MD simulations also shed light on the intratumoral pH-specific release of doxorubicin from functionalized MWCNTs, which is induced by protonation of the daunosamine moiety. The simulations show that this change in protonation leads to a lower absorption of doxorubicin to the MWCNTs. The MD studies were then experimentally validated, where functionalized MWCNTs showed improved dispersion in aqueous medium compared to pristine MWCNTs and, in agreement with the computational predictions, increased drug loading capacity. Doxorubicin-loaded functionalized MWCNTs demonstrated specific release of doxorubicin in tumor microenvironment (pH = 5.0) with negligible release in the physiological pH (pH = 7.4). Furthermore, doxorubicin-free MWNCT nanoformulations exhibited insignificant cytotoxicity. The experimental studies yielded nearly identical results to the MD studies, underlining the usefulness of the method. Our functionalized MWCNTs represent promising non-toxic nanoplatforms with enhanced aqueous dispersibility and the potential for conjugation with ligands for targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs to breast cancer cells. METHODS: The computational model of a pristine carbon nanotube was created with the buildCstruct 1.2 Python script. The lysinated functionalized groups were added with PyMOL and VMD. The carbon nanotubes and doxorubicin molecules were parameterized using the general AMBER force field, and RESP charges were determined using Gaussian 09. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out with the AMBER 20 software package. Adsorption levels were calculated using the water-shell function of cpptraj. Cytotoxicity was evaluated via a MTT assay using MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Drug uptake of doxorubicin and doxorubicin-loaded MWCNTs was measured by fluorescence microscopy.

Orthodontics in the oral health care network of the Unified Health System (SUS).

This observational study aimed to describe and analyze data from two external evaluations of the National Program for Improving Access to and Quality of Dental Specialty Centers (PMAQ CEO), held in 2014 and 2018 in Brazil, which evaluated Dental Specialty Centers (CEO) using a national and census approach. We selected questions through a search in the microdata of the first and second evaluations. The groups were analyzed independently. To compare the groups, nonparametric tests were performed (Mann Whitney U). The formulated hypotheses were: there would be no differences between the data of these groups (h0) and there would be differences between the data of these groups (h1). For qualitative nominal variables, frequency distribution was verified and association tests were performed (chi-square test). The significance level for this study was set at 5%. We observed that orthodontic treatments were found in about 13% of the CEO. Regarding human resources, most professionals were specialists or had MSc or PhD degrees; were civil servants; had been hired by direct administration; or had been hired via public tender. Regarding the work process and inclusion of the CEO in the health care network, we observed a greater number of services that use single and electronic medical records, greater presence of services monitoring and analyzing goals, greater knowledge about monthly average of absenteeism (for 2018); and larger number of services with referrals from primary health care centers (for 2014). Expanding the view on orthodontics and including preventive, interceptive, and corrective treatments at different points in health care networks are essential strategies for achieving comprehensive care in universal health systems.

Biostimulant Response of Foliar Application of Rare Earth Elements on Physiology, Growth, and Yield of Rice.

Rare earth elements (REEs) have been intentionally used in Chinese agriculture since the 1980s to improve crop yields. Around the world, REEs are also involuntarily applied to soils through phosphate fertilizers. These elements are known to alleviate damage in plants under abiotic stresses, yet there is no information on how these elements act in the physiology of plants. The REE mode of action falls within the scope of the hormesis effect, with low-dose stimulation and high-dose adverse reactions. This study aimed to verify how REEs affect rice plants' physiology to test the threshold dose at which REEs could act as biostimulants in these plants. In experiment 1, 0.411 kg ha-1 (foliar application) of a mixture of REE (containing 41.38% Ce, 23.95% La, 13.58% Pr, and 4.32% Nd) was applied, as well as two products containing 41.38% Ce and 23.95% La separately. The characteristics of chlorophyll a fluorescence, gas exchanges, SPAD index, and biomass (pot conditions) were evaluated. For experiment 2, increasing rates of the REE mix (0, 0.1, 0.225, 0.5, and 1 kg ha-1) (field conditions) were used to study their effect on rice grain yield and nutrient concentration of rice leaves. Adding REEs to plants increased biomass production (23% with Ce, 31% with La, and 63% with REE Mix application) due to improved photosynthetic rate (8% with Ce, 15% with La, and 27% with REE mix), favored by the higher electronic flow (photosynthetic electron transport chain) (increase of 17%) and by the higher Fv/Fm (increase of 14%) and quantum yield of photosystem II (increase of 20% with Ce and La, and 29% with REE Mix), as well as by increased stomatal conductance (increase of 36%) and SPAD index (increase of 10% with Ce, 12% with La, and 15% with REE mix). Moreover, adding REEs potentiated the photosynthetic process by increasing rice leaves' N, Mg, K, and Mn concentrations (24-46%). The dose for the higher rice grain yield (an increase of 113%) was estimated for the REE mix at 0.72 kg ha-1.

Optimization of simultaneous screening of the main mutations involved in non-syndromic deafness using the TaqMan® OpenArray™ Genotyping platform.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in humans, affecting approximately 10% of the global population. In developed countries, one in every 500 individuals suffers from severe to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. For those up to 5 years old, the proportion is higher, at 2.7 in 1000 individuals, and for adolescents the average is 3.5 in 1000. Among the causes of hearing loss, more than 50% are related to genetic factors. To date, nearly 150 loci and 64 genes have been associated with hearing loss. Mutations in the GJB2 gene, which encodes connexin 26, constitute the main genetic cause. So far, more than 300 variations have been described in this gene.As a response to the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of hearing loss and the importance of correct molecular diagnosis of individuals with hereditary hearing loss, this study worked in the optimization for a diagnostic protocol employing a high-throughput genotyping technology. METHODS: For this work, was used the TaqMan® OpenArray™ Genotyping platform. This is a high performance, high-throughput technology based on real-time PCR, which enables the evaluation of up to 3072 SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), point mutations, small deletions, and insertions, using a single genotyping plate. For the study, were selected the layout allowing to analyze 32 alterations in 96 individuals simultaneously. In the end, the generated results were validated by conventional techniques, as direct sequencing, Multiplex PCR and RFLP-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 376 individuals were analyzed, of which 94 were healthy controls, totaling 4 plates in duplicate. All 31 of the changes analyzed were present in the nuclear genes GJB2, GJB6, CRYL1, TMC1, SLC26A4, miR-96, and OTOF, and in the mitochondrial genes MT-RNR1 and MT-TS1. The reactions were subsequently validated by established techniques (direct sequencing, multiplex PCR, and RFLP-PCR) that had previously been used to perform molecular screening of hearing loss at the Human Genetics Laboratory of the Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). In total, 11,656 genotyping reactions were performed. Of these, only 351 reactions failed, representing approximately 3.01% of the total. The average accuracy of genotyping using the OpenArray™ plates was 96.99%. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated the accuracy, low cost, and good reproducibility of the technique, indicating that the TaqMan® OpenArray™ Genotyping Platform is a useful and reliable tool for application in molecular diagnostic testing of hearing loss.

Sodium Selenate, Potassium Hydroxy-Selenide, Acetylselenide and Their Effect on Antioxidant Metabolism and Plant Nutrition and Yield in Sorghum Genotypes.

Agronomic biofortification with selenium (Se) effectively reduces hidden hunger and increases the nutritional intake of Se in people and animals. Because sorghum is a staple diet for millions of people and is used in animal feed, it becomes a crop with biofortification potential. Consequently, this study aimed to compare organoselenium compounds with selenate, which is effective in numerous crops, and to assess grain yield, the effect in the antioxidant system, and macronutrient/micronutrient contents of different sorghum genotypes treated with Se, via foliar spray. The trials used a 4 × 8 factorial design, with four Se sources (control-without Se supply, sodium selenate, potassium hydroxy-selenide, acetylselenide) and eight genotypes (BM737, BRS310, Enforcer, K200, Nugrain320, Nugrain420, Nugrain430, and SHS410). The Se rate used was 0.125 mg plant-1. All genotypes reacted effectively to foliar fertilization with Se through sodium selenate. In this experiment, potassium hydroxy-selenide and acetylselenide showed low Se levels and lower Se uptake and absorption efficiency than selenate. Selenium fertilization increased grain yield and altered lipid peroxidation by malondialdehyde content, hydrogen peroxide content, catalase activity, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and macronutrients and micronutrients content of the studied genotypes. In sum, biofortification with selenium led to an overall yield increase of sorghum plants and supplementation with selenium through sodium selenate was more efficient than organoselenium compounds, yet acetylselenide had a positive effect on the antioxidant system. Sorghum can be effectively biofortified through the foliar application of sodium selenate; however, studying the interaction between organic and inorganic Se compounds in plants is necessary.

An ecotoxicological approach can complement the assessment of natural waters from Portuguese reservoirs?

Within the scope of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), the scientific community recognized clear opportunities to take advantage of the use of ecotoxicological tools in water quality assessments. In this perspective, bioassays and biomarkers were suggested to contribute to the integration of the chemical and biological conditions, and thus to provide an overall insight into the quality of a water body. This study aimed to assess whether current bioassays as feeding rate assays with Daphnia longispina and growth inhibition assays with Lemna minor are suitable to detect potential ecotoxicity, using waters from Portuguese reservoirs. Several sampling sites were defined in reservoirs (Miranda, Pocinho, and Alqueva). The samplings were conducted in autumn of 2018 and spring of 2019. Total chlorophyll, lipid peroxidation, and proline content were also evaluated in L. minor. Results demonstrated that D. longispina showed some sensitivity to water treatments; however, the results were difficult to interpret since no reason or trend can be accurate. All parameters of L. minor did not show sensitivity to detect potential ecotoxicological risks associated with natural water understudy, since no discrimination among the water treatments was recorded. However, biomarkers/bioassays proved to be concordant to each other. Under the conditions evaluated here (reservoirs and sampling periods), the biological responses observed were not consistent, clear, and coherent with the physical-chemical parameters and chemical analyses performed, suggesting that the ecotoxicological tools selected were not sensitive to assess water quality in this type of ecosystems. In this sense, species of different trophic levels are recommended for ecotoxicological analyses due to differences in species sensitivities.