[Profile and career path of graduates from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation master's and doctoral courses (2013-2020)]. / Perfil e percurso profissional de egressos dos cursos de mestrado e doutorado da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (2013-2020).

This study aims to analyze the profile of graduates and identify factors associated with positive performance regarding training and professional insertion among those who have completed face-to-face master's and doctoral courses at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Brazil). A total of 2,462 graduates participated in the study (1,402 master's and 1,060 doctoral graduates), who answered a digital questionnaire containing questions about individual characteristics and professional insertion before entering the course and after completion. A measure on "positive post-course performance" was created. The results show that Master's graduates with a positive impact from the course tend to be men; to have a specialization degree before entering the course; to have paid employment after finishing the course in the areas of research, education, assistance, and management; and to be civil servants. In the Doctorate, the following profile is evident: graduates with paid employment after finishing the course in the areas of research or education; hired under a single legal regime or temporary contract as a legal entity; and with a scientific publication or patent. Evaluating/monitoring graduates must be established as an important public educational policy, incorporated into the institutional self-evaluation process, which makes it possible to review directions and priorities in the institution's educational and pedagogical agenda.

O objetivo do estudo é analisar o perfil de egressos e identificar fatores associados ao desempenho positivo relativo à trajetória de formação e de inserção profissional entre aqueles que concluíram cursos presenciais de mestrado e doutorado acadêmico da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Brasil). Participaram do estudo 2.462 egressos (1.402 de mestrado e 1.060 de doutorado) que responderam um questionário digital, contendo questões sobre perfil do egresso e inserção profissional antes do ingresso no curso e após a conclusão. Foi criada uma medida sobre "desempenho positivo pós-curso". Os resultados revelam que egressos de mestrado com impacto positivo do curso tendem a ser homens; ter especialização antes de ingressar no curso; ter emprego remunerado após o término do curso nas áreas de pesquisa, educação, assistência e gestão; e ser servidor público. No doutorado o seguinte perfil é evidenciado: egressos com emprego remunerado após o término do curso nas áreas de pesquisa ou educação; contratados por Regime Jurídico Único ou contrato temporário de pessoa jurídica; e com publicação científica ou patente. A avaliação/acompanhamento de egressos deve se instaurar como uma importante política pública educacional, incorporada no processo de autoavaliação institucional, o que possibilita rever rumos e prioridades na agenda educacional e pedagógica da instituição.

El objetivo del estudio es analizar el perfil de egresados e identificar factores asociados al desempeño positivo relacionado a la trayectoria de formación e inserción profesional entre aquellos que concluyeron cursos presenciales de maestría y doctorado académico de la Fundación Oswaldo Cruz (Brasil). Participaron del estudio 2.462 egresados (1.402 de maestría y 1.060 de doctorado) que contestaron el cuestionario de manera digital, con preguntas sobre el perfil del egresado y la inserción profesional antes del ingreso al curso y tras su conclusión. Se creó una medida sobre "desempeño positivo tras el curso". Los resultados muestran que los egresados de la maestría con un impacto positivo del curso tienden a ser hombres; tener especialización antes de ingresar al curso; tener trabajo remunerado tras concluir el curso en las áreas de investigación, educación, asistencia y gestión; y ser funcionario público. Se evidencia el siguiente perfil en el doctorado: egresados con trabajo remunerado tras el término del curso en las áreas de investigación o educación; contratados bajo un régimen jurídico único o un contrato temporal de persona jurídica; y con publicación científica o patente. La evaluación/seguimiento de egresados se debe establecer como una importante política pública educativa, incorporada en el proceso de autoevaluación institucional, lo que permite revisar direcciones y prioridades en la agenda educativa y pedagógica de la institución.

Osteocalcin of maternal and embryonic origins synergize to establish homeostasis in offspring.

Many physiological osteocalcin-regulated functions are affected in adult offspring of mothers experiencing unhealthy pregnancy. Furthermore, osteocalcin signaling during gestation influences cognition and adrenal steroidogenesis in adult mice. Together these observations suggest that osteocalcin may broadly function during pregnancy to determine organismal homeostasis in adult mammals. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed in unchallenged wildtype and Osteocalcin-deficient, newborn and adult mice of various genotypes and origin maintained on different genetic backgrounds, the functions of osteocalcin in the pancreas, liver and testes and their molecular underpinnings. This analysis revealed that providing mothers are Osteocalcin-deficient, Osteocalcin haploinsufficiency in embryos hampers insulin secretion, liver gluconeogenesis, glucose homeostasis, testes steroidogenesis in adult offspring; inhibits cell proliferation in developing pancreatic islets and testes; and disrupts distinct programs of gene expression in these organs and in the brain. This study indicates that osteocalcin exerts dominant functions in most organs it influences. Furthermore, through their synergistic regulation of multiple physiological functions, osteocalcin of maternal and embryonic origins contributes to the establishment and maintenance of organismal homeostasis in newborn and adult offspring.

Perfil e percurso profissional de egressos dos cursos de mestrado e doutorado da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (2013-2020) / Profile and career path of graduates from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation master's and doctoral courses (2013-2020) / Perfil y trayectoria profesional de egresados de los cursos de maestría y doctorado de la Fundación Oswaldo Cruz (2013-2020)

Resumo: O objetivo do estudo é analisar o perfil de egressos e identificar fatores associados ao desempenho positivo relativo à trajetória de formação e de inserção profissional entre aqueles que concluíram cursos presenciais de mestrado e doutorado acadêmico da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Brasil). Participaram do estudo 2.462 egressos (1.402 de mestrado e 1.060 de doutorado) que responderam um questionário digital, contendo questões sobre perfil do egresso e inserção profissional antes do ingresso no curso e após a conclusão. Foi criada uma medida sobre "desempenho positivo pós-curso". Os resultados revelam que egressos de mestrado com impacto positivo do curso tendem a ser homens; ter especialização antes de ingressar no curso; ter emprego remunerado após o término do curso nas áreas de pesquisa, educação, assistência e gestão; e ser servidor público. No doutorado o seguinte perfil é evidenciado: egressos com emprego remunerado após o término do curso nas áreas de pesquisa ou educação; contratados por Regime Jurídico Único ou contrato temporário de pessoa jurídica; e com publicação científica ou patente. A avaliação/acompanhamento de egressos deve se instaurar como uma importante política pública educacional, incorporada no processo de autoavaliação institucional, o que possibilita rever rumos e prioridades na agenda educacional e pedagógica da instituição.

Abstract: This study aims to analyze the profile of graduates and identify factors associated with positive performance regarding training and professional insertion among those who have completed face-to-face master's and doctoral courses at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Brazil). A total of 2,462 graduates participated in the study (1,402 master's and 1,060 doctoral graduates), who answered a digital questionnaire containing questions about individual characteristics and professional insertion before entering the course and after completion. A measure on "positive post-course performance" was created. The results show that Master's graduates with a positive impact from the course tend to be men; to have a specialization degree before entering the course; to have paid employment after finishing the course in the areas of research, education, assistance, and management; and to be civil servants. In the Doctorate, the following profile is evident: graduates with paid employment after finishing the course in the areas of research or education; hired under a single legal regime or temporary contract as a legal entity; and with a scientific publication or patent. Evaluating/monitoring graduates must be established as an important public educational policy, incorporated into the institutional self-evaluation process, which makes it possible to review directions and priorities in the institution's educational and pedagogical agenda.

Resumen: El objetivo del estudio es analizar el perfil de egresados e identificar factores asociados al desempeño positivo relacionado a la trayectoria de formación e inserción profesional entre aquellos que concluyeron cursos presenciales de maestría y doctorado académico de la Fundación Oswaldo Cruz (Brasil). Participaron del estudio 2.462 egresados (1.402 de maestría y 1.060 de doctorado) que contestaron el cuestionario de manera digital, con preguntas sobre el perfil del egresado y la inserción profesional antes del ingreso al curso y tras su conclusión. Se creó una medida sobre "desempeño positivo tras el curso". Los resultados muestran que los egresados de la maestría con un impacto positivo del curso tienden a ser hombres; tener especialización antes de ingresar al curso; tener trabajo remunerado tras concluir el curso en las áreas de investigación, educación, asistencia y gestión; y ser funcionario público. Se evidencia el siguiente perfil en el doctorado: egresados con trabajo remunerado tras el término del curso en las áreas de investigación o educación; contratados bajo un régimen jurídico único o un contrato temporal de persona jurídica; y con publicación científica o patente. La evaluación/seguimiento de egresados se debe establecer como una importante política pública educativa, incorporada en el proceso de autoevaluación institucional, lo que permite revisar direcciones y prioridades en la agenda educativa y pedagógica de la institución.

Osteocalcin of maternal and embryonic origins synergize to establish homeostasis in offspring.

Many physiological functions regulated by osteocalcin are affected in adult offspring of mothers experiencing an unhealthy pregnancy. Furthermore, osteocalcin signaling during gestation influences cognition and adrenal steroidogenesis in adult mice. Together these observations suggest that osteocalcin functions during pregnancy may be a broader determinant of organismal homeostasis in adult mammals than previously thought. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed in unchallenged wildtype and Osteocalcin -deficient, newborn, and adult mice of various genotypes and origin, and that were maintained on different genetic backgrounds, the functions of osteocalcin in the pancreas, liver and testes and their molecular underpinnings. This analysis revealed that providing mothers are themselves Osteocalcin -deficient, Osteocalcin haploinsufficiency in embryos hampers insulin secretion, liver gluconeogenesis, glucose homeostasis, testes steroidogenesis in adult offspring; inhibits cell proliferation in developing pancreatic islets and testes; and disrupts distinct programs of gene expression in these organs and in the brain. This study indicates that through their synergistic regulation of multiple physiological functions, osteocalcin ofmaternal and embryonic origins contributes to the establishment and maintenance of organismal homeostasis in newborn and adult offspring.

Professional trajectory and the impact of education on Fiocruz specialization graduates. / Trajetória profissional e impacto da formação em egressos da Especialização da Fiocruz.

This work aimed to analyze graduates' profiles, education's effects, and the professional trajectory of those who completed lato sensu courses at Fiocruz. A total of 1,620 graduates participated in 79 courses completed in the 2013-2020 period. A questionnaire was applied before the course and after its completion. A description of the absolute and relative frequency of the variables was realized. A binary logistic regression model was developed to identify variables associated with the positive impact of the course. The odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval were the measures used. Among graduates with a positive impact from the course, those with black/brown skin color are 40% more likely to have a positive impact from the course than those with white skin color; those who have other academic education before the course are 1.5 times more likely than those who have no previous education; those who changed their professional activity as a result of the course are 3.3 more likely than those who were not working; those who reported that the course was closely related to their professional activity were 5.7 more likely than those who reported that the course had poor or no relationship. Every one-year increase since graduation increased the likelihood of the course's positive impact by 14%.

O objetivo da pesquisa foi analisar o perfil dos egressos, os efeitos da formação e a trajetória profissional dos que concluíram cursos presenciais de Especialização da Fiocruz. Participaram 1.620 egressos de 79 cursos concluídos entre 2013 e 2020. Foi aplicado questionário antes do ingresso e após o término do curso. Foi realizada descrição da frequência absoluta e relativa das variáveis e desenvolvido modelo de regressão logística binária para identificar variáveis associadas ao impacto positivo do curso. A razão de chance e seu intervalo de confiança de 95% foram as medidas utilizadas. Entre os egressos com impacto positivo do curso concluído: aqueles com cor de pele preta ou parda têm cerca de 40% mais chance de ter impacto positivo do curso do que os de cor de pele branca; os que têm outra formação acadêmica antes do curso têm 1,5 vez mais chance do que os que não têm outra formação anterior, aqueles que mudaram a atividade profissional em função do curso têm 3,3 mais chance do que os que não estavam trabalhando, os que informaram que o curso estava muito relacionado à atividade profissional têm 5,7 mais chance do que os que relataram que o curso teve pouca ou nenhuma relação; e cada acréscimo de 1 ano no tempo de formado aumenta em 14% a chance do impacto positivo do curso.

Trajetória profissional e impacto da formação em egressos da Especialização da Fiocruz / Professional trajectory and the impact of education on Fiocruz specialization graduates

Resumo O objetivo da pesquisa foi analisar o perfil dos egressos, os efeitos da formação e a trajetória profissional dos que concluíram cursos presenciais de Especialização da Fiocruz. Participaram 1.620 egressos de 79 cursos concluídos entre 2013 e 2020. Foi aplicado questionário antes do ingresso e após o término do curso. Foi realizada descrição da frequência absoluta e relativa das variáveis e desenvolvido modelo de regressão logística binária para identificar variáveis associadas ao impacto positivo do curso. A razão de chance e seu intervalo de confiança de 95% foram as medidas utilizadas. Entre os egressos com impacto positivo do curso concluído: aqueles com cor de pele preta ou parda têm cerca de 40% mais chance de ter impacto positivo do curso do que os de cor de pele branca; os que têm outra formação acadêmica antes do curso têm 1,5 vez mais chance do que os que não têm outra formação anterior, aqueles que mudaram a atividade profissional em função do curso têm 3,3 mais chance do que os que não estavam trabalhando, os que informaram que o curso estava muito relacionado à atividade profissional têm 5,7 mais chance do que os que relataram que o curso teve pouca ou nenhuma relação; e cada acréscimo de 1 ano no tempo de formado aumenta em 14% a chance do impacto positivo do curso.

Abstract This work aimed to analyze graduates' profiles, education's effects, and the professional trajectory of those who completed lato sensu courses at Fiocruz. A total of 1,620 graduates participated in 79 courses completed in the 2013-2020 period. A questionnaire was applied before the course and after its completion. A description of the absolute and relative frequency of the variables was realized. A binary logistic regression model was developed to identify variables associated with the positive impact of the course. The odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval were the measures used. Among graduates with a positive impact from the course, those with black/brown skin color are 40% more likely to have a positive impact from the course than those with white skin color; those who have other academic education before the course are 1.5 times more likely than those who have no previous education; those who changed their professional activity as a result of the course are 3.3 more likely than those who were not working; those who reported that the course was closely related to their professional activity were 5.7 more likely than those who reported that the course had poor or no relationship. Every one-year increase since graduation increased the likelihood of the course's positive impact by 14%.

Amygdala AVPR1A mediates susceptibility to chronic social isolation in females.

Females are more sensitive to social exclusion, which could contribute to their heightened susceptibility to anxiety disorders. Chronic social isolation stress (CSIS) for at least 7 weeks after puberty induces anxiety-related behavioral adaptations in female mice. Here, we show that Arginine vasopressin receptor 1a ( Avpr1a )-expressing neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) mediate these sex-specific effects, in part, via projections to the caudate putamen. Loss of function studies demonstrate that AVPR1A signaling in the CeA is required for effects of CSIS on anxiety-related behaviors in females but has no effect in males or group housed females. This sex-specificity is mediated by AVP produced by a subpopulation of neurons in the posterodorsal medial nucleus of the amygdala that project to the CeA. Estrogen receptor alpha signaling in these neurons also contributes to preferential sensitivity of females to CSIS. These data support new therapeutic applications for AVPR1A antagonists in women.

Métodos alternativos para determinação da potência de veneno e antiveneno botrópico: aplicações e perspectivas para o controle da qualidade / Alternative methods for potency evaluation for Bothrops venom and antivenom: applications and perspectives for quality control

Introdução: Acidentes com animais peçonhentos são classificados como doenças tropicais negligenciadas e são atualmente a mais frequente causa de intoxicação em humanos no Brasil. O único tratamento disponível é a rápida administração de antivenenos específicos e de qualidade garantida. Para assegurar a eficácia e a segurança desses produtos, são realizados ensaios de determinação da potência in vivo para veneno e antiveneno, desde as etapas de produção até sua liberação final. Apesar dos diversos estudos sobre métodos   alternativos ao ensaio murino, nenhum método foi efetivamente validado. Objetivo: Compilar os métodos alternativos desenvolvidos para os antivenenos botrópicos, avaliando sua disponibilidade, perspectivas e aplicações em laboratórios de produção e controle da qualidade. Método: Foi realizada uma busca nas bases PubMed, BVS e Scopus entre novembro de 2021 e junho de 2022. Foram identificados 89 trabalhos, dos quais 31 foram selecionados de acordo com os critérios de elegibilidade. Resultados: Nos métodos alternativos identificados, observamos a preferência de 42,80% dos estudos por metodologias que utilizem linhagens celulares como método alternativo aos ensaios murinos, sendo que a maioria destes trabalhos 58,30% optou pela linhagem celular Vero. Conclusões: Pela diversidade das toxinas encontradas em cada gênero de serpentes, entende-se que é de extrema importância que o ensaio de potência dos antivenenos tenha como base a avaliação e a quantificação precisa da inibição da atividade biológica dos venenos. Ensaios de citotoxicidade são amplamente utilizados e têm acumulado evidências de sua adequação como importante ferramenta alternativa ao ensaio murino para o controle da qualidade de veneno e antiveneno antibotrópico.

Introduction: Accidents with venomous animals are classified as neglected tropical diseases and are currently the most frequent cause of intoxication in humans in Brazil. The only available treatment is the rapid administration of specific, quality-assured antivenoms. To ensure the efficacy and safety of these products, in vivo potency determination tests for venom and antivenom are performed during the production stages, until final release. Despite several studies on alternative methods to the murine assay, no method has been effectively validated. Objective: To compile alternative methods developed for Bothrops antivenoms, assessing the availability of the methods and the prospects and applications in Bothrops venom and antivenom production and quality control laboratories. Method: A search was conducted in PubMed, BVS, and Scopus databases between November 2021 and June 2022. 89 articles were identified, of which 31 were selected according to the eligibility criteria. Results: We observed in the alternative methods identified a preference of 42.80% of the studies for methodologies that use cell lines as an alternative method to the murine assays, and most of these works (58.30%) opted for a VERO cell line. Conclusions: Due to the diversity of toxins found in each genus of snakes, it is understood that the potency assay for antivenoms should be based on the evaluation and precise quantification of the inhibition of biological activity of venoms. Cytotoxicity assays are widely used and have been accumulating evidence of their suitability as an important alternative tool to the murine assay for quality control for Bothrops venom and antivenom.

Assessing the effects of stress on feeding behaviors in laboratory mice.

Stress often affects eating behaviors, increasing caloric intake in some individuals and decreasing it in others. The determinants of feeding responses to stress are unknown, in part because this issue is rarely studied in rodents. We focused our efforts on the novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) assay, which uses latency to eat as readout of anxiety-like behavior, but rarely assesses feeding per se. We explored how key variables in experimental paradigms - estrous and diurnal cyclicity, age and duration of social isolation, prandial state, diet palatability, and elevated body weight - influence stress-induced anxiety-like behavior and food intake in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Latency to eat in the novel environment is increased in both sexes across most of the conditions tested, while effects on caloric intake are variable. In the common NSF assay (i.e., lean mice in the light cycle), sex-specific effects of the length of social isolation, and not estrous cyclicity, are the main source of variability. Under conditions that are more physiologically relevant for humans (i.e., overweight mice in the active phase), the novel stress now elicits robust hyperphagia in both sexes . This novel model of stress eating can be used to identify underlying neuroendocrine and neuronal substrates. Moreover, these studies can serve as a framework to integrate cross-disciplinary studies of anxiety and feeding related behaviors in rodents.

In times of heightened anxiety ­ say, during a global pandemic ­ many of us will reach for donuts or a particularly appetizing pizza for comfort. Others, however, will tend to shun food. What underlies these differences, and, in fact, the neural and hormonal pathways at play during stress eating (when people eat without being hungry due to emotional reasons), remain unclear. This is partly because scientists lack good animal models in which to study these behaviors. In particular, female rodents are usually excluded from studies under the assumption that their hormonal cycles will disrupt the results. Yet, women are overrepresented in studies on feeding habits. Modeling human behaviors using rodents is harder than it may appear. These animals are most active at night ­ yet most experiments are performed during the day. The same stressors also have different outcomes in males and females. François et al. therefore explored better ways to induce anxiety and evaluate feeding behavior in mice, hoping to reliably elicit stress eating. The starting point was a common type of experiments known as novelty-suppressed feeding. First, mice are kept alone in a cage for up to two weeks on a normal diet so that they are used to experimental conditions. Then they are deprived of food overnight, before being given free access to food in the morning in a new environment. This stressful experience normally causes mice to take longer to eat than in their home cage. In rodents, the delay is thought to reflect stress as it is reliably reversed by anti-anxiety compounds approved for human use. In the novelty-suppressed feeding assay, both male and female animals exhibit signs of anxiety, but how much females eat is variable. François et al. showed that this variability is not due to hormonal changes, but instead to how long female mice had been kept alone. Crucially, the test could be adapted so that mice would consistently exhibit behavior similar to human stress eating, whereby they eat more during the test without having fasted the night before. The changes included running the experiment at night, when the animals are normally most active, and using overweight mice (which captures the fact that, in humans, being overweight is associated with being prone to stress eating). Stress eating is an important clinical issue, hindering weigh loss in people with obesity. The new model developed by François et al. could be adopted by other laboratories, enabling better research into this behavior.

On the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, certainties and uncertainties / Sobre a segurança e efetividade das vacinas para COVID-19, certezas e incertezas

Introduction: The COVID-19 vaccines in use (inactivaded virus, encapsulated m-RNA, non-replicating adenovirus-vectored DNA) were clinically tested in randomized placebo- controlled phase-3 studies. Objective: To address certainties and uncertainties about safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines that were approved for use in various countries.Method: The evidence provided by clinical studies on the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines was critically appraised. Results: COVID-19 vaccines proved to be efficacious and safe in clinical trials. Adverse events were mostly those of minor severity commonly noted with other vaccines such as injection site pain, mild flu-like symptoms, headache and asthenia. Although being very rare, anaphylaxis-like reactions were noted with mRNA vaccines. Uncertainties regarding vaccine effectiveness refer mainly to the (long-term) duration of immunity provided by vaccination, the degree of protection conferred to elderly people, and how effective vaccines are against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. There are few uncertainties about vaccine safety including the absence of clinical trial data in pregnant women (and the impact on the unborn child), children and adolescents. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the knowledge gaps about effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines (to be further addressed by observational studies), there is overwhelming evidence that public health benefits of vaccination by far outweigh any foreseeable risk.

Introdução: As vacinas contra COVID-19 (vírus inativado, m-RNA encapsulado, vetor adenovírus não replicante) foram testadas em ensaios clínicos randomizados (fase-3) controlados com placebo. Objetivo: Abordar as certezas e incertezas sobre segurança e efetividade das vacinas para COVID-19 já aprovadas para uso em vários países. Método: A evidência clínica de eficácia e segurança das vacinas contra COVID-19 foram examinadas criticamente. Resultados: As vacinas (COVID-19) mostraram ser eficazes e seguras nos ensaios clínicos. Os eventos adversos foram predominantemente os de menor gravidade comumente observados com outras vacinas, tais como dor no local da injeção, sintomas gripais leves, cefaleia e fraqueza. Embora sejam raras, reações do tipo anafilático foram registradas com vacinas mRNA. As incertezas sobre efetividade referem-se à duração da imunidade conferida pela vacina, o grau de proteção de idosos, e a efetividade das vacinas contra as novas variantes do SARS-CoV-2. As incertezas sobre segurança são poucas e incluem a ausência de estudos clínicos em grávidas (e sobre o bebê no útero), em crianças e adolescentes. Conclusões: Não obstante as poucas lacunas acerca da efetividade e segurança das vacinas contra COVID-19 (a serem abordadas por estudos observacionais), os previsíveis benefícios da vacinação para a saúde pública excedem de longe quaisquer riscos antecipáveis.

Epidemiology of enteric virus infections in children living in the Amazon region.

OBJECTIVES: To verify the frequency of viruses causing acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in association with the histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) and Rotarix™ vaccination coverage in children from the Amazon region. DESIGN: Fecal and saliva samples were collected from children with AGE (n = 485) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) (n = 249) clinical symptoms. Rotavirus A (RVA), norovirus, human adenovirus (HAdV), and sapovirus (SaV) were verified in feces by molecular detection. Saliva samples were used for HBGA phenotyping/FUT3 genotyping. Blood group types, clinical aspects and Rotarix™ RVA vaccination data were recorded. RESULTS: Norovirus remained the most prevalently detected cause of AGE (38%, 184/485 and ARI 21.3%, 53/249). High HAdV frequencies were observed in AGE children (28.6%, 139/485) and ARI children (37.3%, 93/249). RVA was the third most prevalent virus causing AGE (22.7%, 110/485 and ARI 19.3%, 48/249) and a low RV1 coverage (61%, 448/734) was verified. The SaV frequencies were lower (7.2%, 35/485 for AGE and 6.8%, 17/249 for ARI). Secretor children were HBGA susceptible to HAdV infection (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.3; P = 0.04) but not to RVA, norovirus or SaV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Norovirus could be considered the main etiological agent of AGE. No association was verified for HBGA susceptibility to RVA, norovirus and SaV. Secretor children showed a slight susceptibility to HAdV infection and the Le (a-b-) heterogeneous SNPs on the FUT3 gene.

Fish Quality Index Method: Principles, weaknesses, validation, and alternatives-A review.

Fish is a high nutritional value matrix of which production and consumption have been increasing in the last years. Advancements in the efficient evaluation of freshness are essential to optimize the quality assessment, to improve consumer safety, and to reduce raw material losses. Therefore, it is necessary to use rapid, nondestructive, and objective methodologies to evaluate the quality of this matrix. Quality Index Method (QIM) is a tool applied to indicate fish freshness through a sensory evaluation performed by a group of assessors. However, the use of QIM as an official method for quality assessment is limited by the protocol, sampling size, specificities of the species, storage conditions, and assessor's experience, which make this method subjective. Also, QIM may present divergences regarding the development of microorganisms and chemical analysis. In this way, novel quality evaluation methods such as electronic noses, electronic tongues, machine vision system, and colorimetric sensors have been proposed, and novel technologies such as proteomics and mitochondrial analysis have been developed. In this review, the weaknesses of QIM were exposed, and novel methodologies for quality evaluation were presented. The consolidation of these novel methodologies and their use as methods of quality assessment are an alternative to sensory methods, and their understanding enables a more effective fish quality control.

Human Bocavirus genotypes 1 and 2 detected in younger Amazonian children with acute gastroenteritis or respiratory infections, respectively.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to verify the frequency, genotypes, and etiological role of Human Bocavirus (HBoV) in younger Amazonian children with either acute gastroenteritis (AGE) or respiratory infections (ARI). The influence of Rotarix™ vaccination and co-infection status was also investigated. DESIGN: HBoV quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing was done on both fecal and saliva (1468 samples) from 734 children < 5 months old living in the Amazon (Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela). High and median HBoV viral load samples were used for extraction, nested PCR amplification, and sequencing for genotyping. HBoV mRNA detection was done by reverse transcription following DNA amplification. RESULTS: The overall HBoV frequencies were 14.2% (69/485; AGE) and 14.1% (35/249; ARI) (p = 0.83). HBoV exclusively infected 4.5% (22/485; AGE) and 4% (10/249) of the Amazonian children (Odds ratios 1.13, 95% confidence interval= 2.42-0.52). HBoV 1 was mainly detected in feces and saliva from AGE children; and HBoV2, from ARI children. HBoV mRNA was detected only in feces. The Rotarix™ vaccination status did not affect the HBoV frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that, after entry into the air/oral pathways, HBoV1 continues infecting toward the intestinal tract causing AGE. HBoV2 can be a causative agent of AGE and ARI in younger Amazonian children.

Antenatal exposure to antidepressant drugs and the risk of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders: a systematic review.

This study investigated whether antenatal exposure to antidepressants (ADs) increases the risks of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, and cognitive and developmental deficits in infants or preschool children. PubMed, EMBASE, BIREME/BVS databases were searched to identify studies examining associations of ADs in pregnancy with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Twenty studies addressed ASD and/or ADHD risks while 30 focused on developmental and cognitive deficits in infants or preschool children. Most studies detected no association of antenatal AD with ASD after adjustment of risk ratios for maternal depression or psychiatric disorders. Some studies showed that maternal depression, regardless of whether it is treated or untreated, increased ASD risks. Seven out of 8 studies found no increase in ADHD risk associated with antenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the most commonly used AD. No consistent evidence was found linking AD in pregnancy to neurocognitive developmental deficits in infants or preschool children. A residual confounding by indication (depression severity) remained in almost all studies. This systematic review found no consistent evidence suggesting that ADs in pregnancy increase risks of ASD, ADHD, and neurocognitive development deficits. Some studies, however, found evidence that maternal depression increases ASD risks.

Critical evaluation of migration studies of silver nanoparticles present in food packaging: a systematic review.

The large use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has provided safety concerns due to the risks of exposure to this nanomaterial caused by the possibility of transfer of the AgNP from the polymer to the food. The gap in scientific knowledge regarding AgNP's migration capacity has been high in the number of publications. This article critically analyzes AgNP migration studies in food packaging, showing which parameters should be followed to ensure reliability in the results found. A systematic review (SR) of the literature was performed in the electronic databases PubMed, SCOPUS, SciELO, LILACS/BVS, and Embase and in the gray literature, without date restrictions, until August 21, 2017, to identify studies who evaluated the migration of AgNP in food packaging. Among the 26 articles that have been part of this SR, only 2 (M3 and M5) showed no migration evidence; however, these results are questionable, because all studies present conflicting, contradictory, or questionable results. From this RS, it was not possible to assure that the AgNPs present in food packages tend to migrate to the food matrix, since some methodological inconsistences were identified in all studies evaluated, demonstrating the need for standardization of methodological guidelines for the new migration studies.

Antenatal exposure to antidepressant drugs and the risk of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders: a systematic review / Exposição intrauterina a antidepressivos e risco de transtornos de neurodesenvolvimento e psiquiátricos: uma revisão sistemática / Exposición prenatal a medicamentos antidepresivos y riesgo de trastornos psiquiátricos y en el desarrollo neurológico: una revisión sistemática

Abstract: This study investigated whether antenatal exposure to antidepressants (ADs) increases the risks of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, and cognitive and developmental deficits in infants or preschool children. PubMed, EMBASE, BIREME/BVS databases were searched to identify studies examining associations of ADs in pregnancy with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Twenty studies addressed ASD and/or ADHD risks while 30 focused on developmental and cognitive deficits in infants or preschool children. Most studies detected no association of antenatal AD with ASD after adjustment of risk ratios for maternal depression or psychiatric disorders. Some studies showed that maternal depression, regardless of whether it is treated or untreated, increased ASD risks. Seven out of 8 studies found no increase in ADHD risk associated with antenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the most commonly used AD. No consistent evidence was found linking AD in pregnancy to neurocognitive developmental deficits in infants or preschool children. A residual confounding by indication (depression severity) remained in almost all studies. This systematic review found no consistent evidence suggesting that ADs in pregnancy increase risks of ASD, ADHD, and neurocognitive development deficits. Some studies, however, found evidence that maternal depression increases ASD risks.

Resumo: O estudo teve como objetivo investigar se a exposição intrauterina a antidepressivos (ADs) aumenta o risco de transtornos do espectro autista (TEA), transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH), esquizofrenia e outros transtornos mentais e déficits cognitivos e de desenvolvimento em lactentes e pré-escolares. Foram realizadas buscas nas bases PubMed, EMBASE e BIREME/BVS para identificar estudos sobre associações entre o uso de ADs durante a gestação e transtornos de neurodesenvolvimento e psiquiátricos. Vinte estudos trataram de riscos de TEA e/ou TDAH, enquanto 30 focaram em déficits cognitivos e de desenvolvimento em lactentes ou pré-escolares. A maioria dos estudos não detectou associação entre AD na gestação e TEA, depois de ajustar as razões de risco para depressão ou outros transtornos psiquiátricos maternos. Alguns estudos mostraram que a depressão materna, quer tratada ou não, aumenta o risco de TEA. Sete entre oito estudos não detectaram aumento de risco de TDAH associado à exposição intrauterina a inibidores seletivos da recaptação da serotonina, o AD mais comumente utilizado. Não foram encontradas evidências consistentes entre o uso de AD na gestação e déficits de desenvolvimento neurocognitivo em lactentes ou pré-escolares. Em quase todos os estudos, permaneceu um confundimento residual por indicação (gravidade da depressão). A revisão sistemática não encontrou evidências consistentes de que os ADs na gestação aumentassem o risco de TEA, TDAH ou déficits de desenvolvimento neurocognitivo. Entretanto, alguns estudos evidenciaram que a depressão materna aumenta o risco de TEA.

Resumen: Este estudio investigó si la exposición prenatal a antidepresivos (ADs) incrementa los riesgos de trastornos del espectro autista (TEA), trastornos de déficit de atención/hiperactividad (TDAH), esquizofrenia, así como otras enfermedades mentales, cognitivas, y déficits en el desarrollo de niños de primaria o preescolares. Se consultaron las bases de datos PubMed, EMBASE, BIREME/BVS para identificar estudios de asociaciones de ADs durante el embarazo con trastornos de desarrollo neurológico y psiquiátricos. Veinte estudios estaban centrados en riesgos de TEA y/o TDAH, mientras que 30 se centraron en déficits de desarrollo y cognitivos en niños de primaria o preescolares. La mayor parte de los estudios no detectaron asociación de AD, durante la etapa prenatal, con TDA tras el ajuste de las ratios de riesgo para depresión materna o trastornos psiquiátricos. Algunos estudios mostraron que la depresión materna, independientemente de si es tratada o no, incrementó los riesgos de TEA. Siete de los 8 estudios no encontraron un incremento en el riesgo de TDAH, asociado con la exposición prenatal a inhibidores selectivos de la recaptación de serotonina, el antidepresivo más usado habitualmente durante el período prenatal. No se encontraron evidencias consistentes relacionando AD durante el embarazo y déficits en el desarrollo neurocognitivo de niños de primaria o preescolares. En casi todos los estudios hubo una desviación residual señalada como gravedad de la depresión. Esta revisión sistemática no halló evidencias consistentes, sugiriendo que el consumo de ADs durante el embarazo incremente el riesgo de TEA, TDAH, y déficits en el desarrollo neurocognitivo. Algunos estudios, no obstante, encontraron evidencias de que la depresión materna incrementa riesgos de TEA.

A comparison of pyrogen detection tests in the quality control of meningococcal conjugate vaccines: The applicability of the Monocyte Activation Test.

The meningococcal C conjugate vaccine (MenCC) is an interesting model with which to test the efficacy of the Monocyte Activation Test (MAT) as an alternative method of pyrogen testing in the quality control of vaccines. The MenCC that has been produced by Bio-Manguinhos in Brazil is in the final development stage, and, as recommended in the guidelines for MenCC production, its pyrogen content must be determined by using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay and the Rabbit Pyrogen Test (RPT). This represents an ideal opportunity to compare LAL and RPT data with data obtained by using a MAT system with cryopreserved whole blood and IL-6/IL-1ß as marker readouts. In order to assess the compatibility of the MAT with MenCC, endotoxin and non-endotoxin pyrogen content was quantified by using MenCC samples spiked with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipoteichoic acid or zymosan standards. The presence of the aluminium-based adjuvant interfered with the MAT, increasing the readout of IL-1ß in LPS-spiked MenCC batches. This infringed the product-specific validation criteria of the test, and led to IL-6 being chosen as the more suitable marker readout. No pyrogenic contaminants were identified in the MenCC batches tested, demonstrating consistency among the different systems (MAT, RPT and the LAL assay). In conclusion, the introduction of the MAT during MenCC development could contribute to the elimination of animal tests post-licensing, ensuring human protection based on an effective non-animal based method of quality control.