Depression and anxiety symptoms remained elevated after 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in southern Brazil: findings from the PAMPA cohort.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the changes in depression and anxiety symptoms among Brazilian adults over 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: The present study used data from wave 1 (June/July 2020) and wave 2 (December 2020/January 2021) of the Prospective Study About Mental and Physical Health (PAMPA) Cohort, a state-level, ambispective longitudinal study with adults from southern Brazil. The frequency of anxiety and depressive symptoms was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Anxiety and depressive symptoms before social distancing were retrospectively assessed during wave 1. RESULTS: Most of the 674 participants were classified as non-symptomatic for depressive (85.0%) and anxiety symptoms (73.2%) before the COVID-19 pandemic. At wave 1, there were increases in symptoms of depression (7.6% [95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.2%, 8.1%]) and anxiety (9.1% [95% CI: 8.6%, 9.5%]). These decreased at wave 2 (depression: 6.9% [95% CI: 6.5%, 7.2%]; anxiety: 7.4% [95% CI: 7.1%, 7.8%]) although they were still elevated compared with pre-COVID (depression: 4.5% [95% CI: 4.2%, 4.8%]; anxiety: 5.8% [95% CI: 5.5%, 6.1%]). Adults living alone (b = 0.44 [95% CI: 0.07, 0.82]) had a faster trajectory in anxiety symptoms than their counterparts. Cohort members who were living alone (b = 0.24 [95% CI: 0.06, 0.42]) and with diagnosed chronic disease (0.32 [95% CI: 0.18, 0.46]) had a faster increase in depressive symptoms than their respective counterparts. Participants aged ≥60 years showed a slower trajectory of depressive (b = -0.46 [95% CI: -0.73, -0.18]) and anxiety (b = -0.61 [95% CI: -1.20, -0.02) symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: During 10 months of COVID-19, anxiety and depression symptoms improved but were still higher than before COVID-19.

Ancient DNA of Guinea Pigs (Cavia spp.) Indicates a Probable New Center of Domestication and Pathways of Global Distribution.

Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago they were a wild food source. Later, domesticated Cavia porcellus were dispersed well beyond their native range through pre-Columbian exchange networks and, more recently, widely across the globe. Here we present 46 complete mitogenomes of archaeological guinea pigs from sites in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, the Caribbean, Belgium and the United States to elucidate their evolutionary history, origins and paths of dispersal. Our results indicate an independent centre of domestication of Cavia in the eastern Colombian Highlands. We identify a Peruvian origin for the initial introduction of domesticated guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) beyond South America into the Caribbean. We also demonstrate that Peru was the probable source of the earliest known guinea pigs transported, as part of the exotic pet trade, to both Europe and the southeastern United States. Finally, we identify a modern reintroduction of guinea pigs to Puerto Rico, where local inhabitants use them for food. This research demonstrates that the natural and cultural history of guinea pigs is more complex than previously known and has implications for other studies regarding regional to global-scale studies of mammal domestication, translocation, and distribution.

Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women: a cochrane systematic review abridged republication.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic floor muscle training is the most commonly used physical therapy treatment for women with urinary incontinence. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of Pelvic floor muscle training for women with urinary incontinence in comparison to a control treatment and to summarize relevant economic findings. METHODS: Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialized Register (February 12, 2018). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized or quasi-randomized trials in women with stress, urgency or mixed urinary incontinence (symptoms, signs, or urodynamic). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Trials were independently assessed by at least two reviewers authors and subgrouped by urinary incontinence type. Quality of evidence was assessed by adopting the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: The review included thirty-one trials involving 1817 women from 14 countries. Overall, trials were small to moderate size, and many were at moderate risk of bias. There was considerable variation in the intervention's content and duration. Based on data available, we can be confident that Pelvic floor muscle training can cure or improve symptoms of stress and all other types of urinary incontinence. It may reduce the number of leakage episodes and the quantity of leakage, while improving reported symptoms and quality of life. Women were more satisfied with Pelvic floor muscle training, while those in control groups were more likely to seek further treatment. Long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Pelvic floor muscle training needs to be further researched. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of ten new trials did not change the essential findings of the earlier review, suggesting that Pelvic floor muscle training could be included in first-line conservative management of women with urinary incontinence.

Analysis of the complete organellar genomes of the economically valuable kelp Lessonia spicata (Lessoniaceae, Phaeophyceae) from Chile.

Lessonia spicata (Suhr) Santelices is the most ecologically and economically important kelp from Pacific South America. Here, we contribute to the bioinformatics and evolutionary systematics of the species by performing high throughput sequencing on L. spicata from Valparaiso, Chile. The L. spicata complete mitogenome is 37,097 base pairs (bp) in length and contains 66 genes (GenBank accession MK965907), the complete plastid genome is 130,305 bp and has 173 genes (accession MK965908), and the data assembled 7,630 bp of the nuclear ribosomal cistron (accession MK965909). The organellar genomes are similar in structure and content to others published from the Laminariales.

Prevalence and Severity of Ratoon Stunt in Commercial Brazilian Sugarcane Fields.

Brazil has 9 million ha of sugarcane, 85% of which are located in the Center-South area of the country. Field trials and surveys around the globe have shown that ratoon stunt disease (RSD), caused by Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli, can severely reduce tonnage yield. Previous small-scale studies in Brazil have demonstrated RSD infection in all varieties, with values varying from 25 to 68%. Nevertheless, the prevalence and severity of RSD in commercial fields had not previously been assessed. To address this issue, we surveyed 13,173 ha in 1,154 fields of the eight main sugarcane varieties of the Center-South area, taking 92,114 samples from 50 mills in five different states. Our data showed that 10% of fields were infected, and that 58% of mills had at least one RSD-infected field. The variety RB92579 had the highest proportion of infected fields (17%) and, on average, the prevalence and severity in these fields was high compared with other varieties. RB867515, the most cultivated in Brazil, showed infection in 6.2% of sampled fields (5.5% of sampled area) causing an estimated annual economic loss of over US$1 million. This was the first time the economic importance of RSD on Brazilian commercial sugarcane production was estimated. The Cerrado region had the highest prevalence of RSD: 16% of fields, 17% of the cultivated area, and 82% of mills. The use of diseased planting material was identified in 9% of plant cane fields, representing 10% of the cultivated area. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Automated external defibrillators and simulated in-hospital cardiac arrests.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that pediatric residents would have shorter time to attempted defibrillation using automated external defibrillators (AEDs) compared with manual defibrillators (MDs). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of AEDs versus MDs was performed. Pediatric residents responded to a simulated in-hospital ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest and were randomized to using either an AED or MD. The primary end point was time to attempted defibrillation. RESULTS: Sixty residents, 21 (35%) interns, were randomized to 2 groups (AED = 30, MD = 30). Residents randomized to the AED group had a significantly shorter time to attempted defibrillation [median, 60 seconds (interquartile range, 53 to 71 seconds)] compared with those randomized to the MD group [median, 103 seconds (interquartile range, 68 to 288 seconds)] (P < .001). All residents in the AED group attempted defibrillation at <5 minutes compared with 23 (77%) in the MD group (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: AEDs improve the time to attempted defibrillation by pediatric residents in simulated cardiac arrests. Further studies are needed to help determine the role of AEDs in pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrests.

Multilocus sequence typing of intercontinental bovine Staphylococcus aureus isolates.

A total of 258 bovine-associated Staphylococcus aureus isolates from the United States, Chile, and the United Kingdom, plus the reference isolate S. aureus Newbould 305 (NCIMB 702892), were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). A collection of previously characterized United Kingdom isolates were also included in the analysis. The results demonstrated that MLST is suitable for the differentiation of bovine S. aureus isolates from various sites (milk, teat skin, milking machine unit liners, hands, and bedding) and countries. The theory of the host specificity of S. aureus is supported by the detection of a previously undescribed clonal complex that comprised 87.4% of the isolates studied, with representatives from all geographic locations investigated. This suggests that a single clonal group has achieved a widespread distribution and is responsible for the majority of infections. Some sequence types (STs; ST25, ST115, ST124, and ST126) demonstrated site specificity, as they were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with milk or teat skin.

Purification and characterization of an iron-nickel hydrogenase from Thermococcus celer.

Thermococcus celer cells contain a single hydrogenase located in the cytoplasm, which has been purified to apparent homogeneity using three chromatographic steps: Q-Sepharose, DEAE-Fast Flow, and Sephacryl S-200. In vitro assays demonstrated that this enzyme was able to catalyze the oxidation as well as the evolution of H2. T. celer hydrogenase had an apparent MW of 155,000+/-30,000 by gel filtration. When analyzed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis a single band of 41,000+/-2,000 was detected. Hydrogenase activity was also detected in situ in a SDS polyacrylamide gel followed by an activity staining procedure revealing a single band corresponding to a protein of apparent Mr 84,000+/-3,000. Measurements of iron and acid-labile sulfide in different preparations of T. celer hydrogenase gave values ranging from 24 to 30 g-atoms Fe/mole of protein and 24 to 36 g-atoms of acid-labile sulfide per mole of protein. Nickel is present in 1.9-2.3 atoms per mole of protein. Copper, tungsten, and molybdenum were detected in amounts lower than 0.5 g-atoms per mole of protein. T. celer hydrogenase was inactive at ambient temperature, exhibited a dramatic increase in activity above 70 degrees C, and had an optimal activity above 90 degrees C. This enzyme showed no loss of activity after incubation at 80 degrees C for 28 h, but lost 50% of its initial activity after incubation at 96 degrees C for 20 h. Hydrogenase exhibited a half-life of approximately 25 min in air. However, after treating the air-exposed sample with sodium dithionite, more than 95% of the original activity was recovered. Copper sulfate, magnesium chloride and nitrite were also inactivators of this enzyme.

A new species of Osteocephalus (Anura: Hylidae) from Guyana.

A new member of the genus Osteocephalus is described from the Pakaraima mountains of western Guyana. This species is the smallest known member of the genus and is probably closely related to O. subtilis. Both share a small size (less than 40 mm snout-vent length), large and bulgy eyes directed somewhat rostrally, green bones, smooth and brownish dorsal skin, relatively short and truncate snout, small tympanum, subgular and laterally expanded vocal sac, poorly developed subarticular and supernumerary tubercles, a supra-anal glandular ridge, and cream-white venter and subocular region. The new species can be distinguished from O. subtilis by the Buff iris (vs black), smaller overall size (32.7 vs 35.8-38.8 mm snout-vent length), relatively larger toe disks, and less developed foot webbing. The cranium of the new species is well ossified, relatively reduced in width between the orbits, without an exposed frontoparietal fontanelle and with the anterior arm of the squamosal extending to about half the distance to the maxillary. The vocal sac is subgularly poorly developed and possess lateral extensions to the area behind the jaw angles. Well developed supraocular and suprasquamosal cartilages give support to the enlarged eyes of this species.

A new species of arboreal pitviper from the Atlantic versant of northern Central America.

A new species of green, prehensile-tailed pitviper of the genus Bothriechis is described from the Atlantic slopes of eastern Guatemala and western Honduras. This species appears to be most closely related to B. bicolor of the Pacific versant of Chiapas (Mexico) and Guatemala. Several other species of Bothriechis occur on the Atlantic versant of northern Central America, including two montane species, B. aurifer and B. marchi but, with one possible exception, these are not known to be sympatric with the new species and occur in different mountain ranges. The widespread B. schlegelii occurs up to at least 900 m on the Sierra de Caral, where the lowest elevation recorded for the new species is 885 m.

Optimization of the growth conditions of the extremely thermophilic microorganisms Thermococcus celer and Pyrococcus woesei.

Growth medium components and cultivation conditions for the extremely thermophilic Archaea Thermococcus celer and Pyrococcus woesei were optimized. A culture media based in marine water was formulated. Both Archaea demonstrated to be strictly anaerobic with optimal growth temperature of 85 degrees and 95 degrees C, respectively. Sodium sulfide, but not cysteine, was used as a sulfur and reductive capacity source. It was observed that hydrogen sulfide could be replaced by 30 microM titanium (III) nitrile acetate. The addition of elemental S(o) enhanced growth of both microorganisms, with T. celer far more sensitive than P. woesei to the absence of S(o). P. woesei utilized maltose as a carbon source, while T. celer was able to use only peptides from yeast extract, peptone and tryptone as its carbon source. Optimum carbon source concentrations were 1.25 g/L for T. celer and 5 g/L for P. woesei. Although both Archaea required peptides as a nitrogen source, the addition of ammonia chloride to a nitrogen-limited media did not stimulate growth, which suggests that neither Archaea appear to metabolize ammonia. The growth of P. woesei, but not T. celer, was stimulated considerably in the presence of iron. Co, Ni, Zn, Mo. Mn and Mg were essential trace elements needed for optimal growth of both bacteria.

Early feeding, feeding tolerance, and lactase activity in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to ascertain whether the timing of feeding initiation affected the development of intestinal lactase activity and whether there are clinical ramifications of lower lactase activity. STUDY DESIGN: Preterm infants (26 to 30 weeks' gestation; n = 135) were randomly assigned to begin enteral feedings at either 4 (early group) or 15 days of age (standard group). At 10, 28, and 50 days of age lactase activity was determined by measuring the urinary ratio of lactulose/lactose after the 2 sugars were administered. RESULTS: Lactase activity increased significantly over time. Infants in the early group had greater lactase activity at 10 days of age (by 100%) and 28 days of age (by 60%) than the standard group. At 10 days of age lactase activity was greater in milk- versus formula-fed infants. The time required to achieve full enteral feedings, the number of abnormal abdominal x-ray examinations, and the total number of abdominal x-ray examinations were inversely related to lactase activity. CONCLUSIONS: Early feeding increases intestinal lactase activity in preterm infants. Lactase activity is a marker of intestinal maturity and may influence clinical outcomes. Whether the effects of milk on lactase activity were due to the greater concentration of lactose in human milk compared with that in formula must be determined.

Renal transplantation from living related donors in Barbados

The results of 10 living donor (LRD) renal transplants performed in Barbados during the period 1987 to 1997 are reported. The donors were four mothers, three fathers, two brothers and an uncle. The six female and four male recipients were 14 to 36 years of age. Four recipients displayed delayed graft function (DFG), ie, failure to produce more than 1.0 L of urine in the first 24 hours and/or failure to reduce plasma creatinine by more than 50 percent in the first 48 post-operative hours. Two of these grafts were lost due to thrombosis of the allograft anastomisis; one patient successfully resumed haemodialysis therapy following transplant nephrectomy but the other died from the respiratory distress syndrome three days after transplantation. Of the remaining two patients with DGF, one showed impaired function at one year and subsequently lost the allograft at ten years post-transplantation from chronic rejection, the other has "normal" renal function five year post-transplantation. One other patient died in the early post-operative period, from a cerebral haemorrhage due to uncontrolled hypertension. Five of the allografts were functioning five years after transplantation (mean plasma creatinine = 169.2 umols/l); one has a plasma creatinine of 112 umols/l at one year and another has a plasma creatinine of 300 umols/l eight months after transplantation. This experience shows that the infrastructure to support LRD renal transplants is established in Barbados and can be used to supplement renal replacement initiatives in Barbados and in neighbouring Eastern Caribbean states.(AU)

Total energy expenditure and physical activity level of lactating Mesoamerindians.

Energy-sparing mechanisms may be elicited to meet increased energy requirements imposed by lactation on women who reside in poor, rural communities in developing countries. The objectives of this study were to measure total energy expenditure and its components, basal and activity energy expenditure, and to investigate their relationships with lactation performance in a total of 40 rural Mesoamerindians stratified according to postpartum body mass index. Total energy expenditure and fat-free mass were measured by the doubly labeled water method, and basal metabolic rate was determined by indirect calorimetry at 3 and 6 mo postpartum. Physical activity level was taken as the ratio of total energy expenditure to basal metabolic rate. Milk energy output, which is not included in total energy expenditure, was computed from 24-h milk intake (test-weighing) and energy concentration of milk (bomb calorimetry). Anthropometric measurements revealed negligible mobilization of tissue stores. Mean (+/- SD) total energy expenditures were 8912 +/- 1296 kJ/d and 9253 +/- 1298 kJ/d for the lower and higher body mass index groups, respectively. Adjusted for fat-free mass, total energy expenditure was higher in the lower body mass index group (P = 0.05). Adjusted for fat-free mass, basal metabolic rate did not differ between groups. Physical activity level was significantly higher in the lower body mass index group (P = 0.03). Lactation performance did not differ between groups and was not associated with total energy expenditure or its components. Despite the maintenance of energy balance and heightened energy requirements of lactation, energy-sparing mechanisms were not evident in these lactating Mesoamerindians.

PIP: The authors measured total energy expenditure and its components, basal and activity energy expenditure, and investigated their relationships with lactation performance among 40 rural Mesoamerindians stratified according to postpartum body mass index. Total energy expenditure and fat-free mass were measured by the doubly-labeled water method, and basal metabolic rate was determined by indirect calorimetry at 3 and 6 months postpartum. The ratio of total energy expenditure to basal metabolic rate identified the physical activity level, while milk energy output was computed from 24-hour milk intake test and the energy concentration of milk. Anthropometric measurements identified negligible mobilization of tissue stores. Mean total energy expenditures were 8912 kJ/day and 9253 kJ/day for the lower and higher body mass index groups, respectively. Adjusted for fat-free mass, total energy expenditure was higher in the lower body mass index group, although the basal metabolic rate did not differ between groups. The physical activity level was significantly higher in the lower body mass index group. Lactation performance did not differ between groups and was not associated with total energy expenditure or its components. Despite the maintenance of energy balance and heightened energy requirements of lactation, energy-sparing mechanisms were not evident in these lactating Mesoamerindians.

Evidence for an association between markers on chromosome 19q and non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate in two groups of multiplex families.

It has been reported that BCL3 on chromosome 19q, or a nearby gene, may play a role in the etiology of non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in some families. We tested 30 USA and 11 Mexican multiplex NSCL/P families for four markers on chromosome 19q: D19S178, APOC2/AC1, APOC2/007, and BCL3. While likelihood-based linkage analysis failed to show significant evidence of linkage, the transmission disequilibrium test indicated highly significant deviation from independent assortment of allele 3 at the BCL3 marker in both data sets (USA:P = 0.001; Mexican: P = 0.018; both combined: P < 0.001) and for allele 13 of the D19S178 marker in the Mexican data set (P = 0.004). These results support an association, possibly due to linkage disequilibrium, between chromosome 19 markers and a putative NSCL/P locus.

Early growth faltering of rural Mesoamerindian breast-fed infants.

Early growth faltering has been described in breast-fed infants 4-6 months of age from less-developed communities. The timing and magnitude of growth faltering, however, depends on the appropriateness or comparability of the reference used to evaluate growth performance. In this paper we compared the growth performance of a group of rural Mesoamerindian breast-fed infants from birth through 6 months of age to that of a reference group of breast-fed infants reared under favourable nutritional and environment conditions in the United States. The validity of this assessment is based upon the comparability of infant feeding mode. Mean weights and lengths and corresponding weight-for-age and length-for-age percentiles and z-scores were significantly lower among the Mesoamerindian (Otomi Indian) infants (p = 0.001). Mean weight-for-length percentiles and z-scores did not differ between groups. Weight gain (g/day) was significantly lower among the Otomi infants throughout the entire 6 months (p = 0.001). Length velocities of the Otomi infants were lower than reference infants at 3-6 months (p = 0.001). The growth pattern of the Otomi infants differed from that of the reference group: decreases in growth velocities and weight-for-age and length-for-age z-scores were significantly more precipitous for the Otomi infants between 4 and 6 months of age (p = 0.001). We conclude that growth faltering was evident among the Otomi infants between 4 and 6 months of age, relative to a reference growth of breast-fed infants.

PIP: During 1986-89, for the first 6 months of life biweekly measurements were taken of the weight and length of 114 breast fed, healthy Mesoamerindian (Otomi) infants living in rural Capulhuac, Mexico, and their mothers were asked about infant feeding. Results were compared with a reference sample of 45 predominantly breast fed infants from Houston, Texas. The Otomi infants had birth weights and lengths lower than the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) medians, perhaps due to suboptimal gestational weight gains. They had significantly lower growth velocities (i.e., weight gain/day throughout entire 6 months and length gain/month for 3-6 months) than the reference infants (p = 0.001). They also had significantly lower NCHS percentiles and NCHS z-scores for weight-for-age and length-for-age than the Texas infants (p = 0.001). For example, at 6 months, the weight and length velocities of the Otomi were about 70% of the reference infants. The mean weight-for-length percentiles and z-scores were not significantly different between the 2 groups, however. Between 4 and 6 months of age, the decreases in growth velocities and NCHS weight-for-age and NCHS length-for-age z-scores of the Otomi infants were much more steep than those for the reference group (p = 0.001); for example, the decrease in weight-for-age was 0.44 for Otomi infants compared to 0.29 for the reference group, and the decrease in length-for-age was 0.43 and 0.18, respectively. In conclusion, the Otomi Indian breast fed infants experienced growth faltering between 4 and 6 months.

The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori in Peruvian children between 6 and 30 months of age.

OBJECTIVES: Cross-sectional studies of children in developing countries show a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection at 6 months of age, but a decrease in the prevalence of infection between 1 and 5 yr of age. The decrease suggests a loss or clearance of infection, an uncommon finding in adults. Our objective in this study was to determine the longitudinal persistence of H. pylori infection in young children. METHODS: We tested an initial cohort of 105 6-month-old infants at 6-month intervals with the 13C-urea breath test; 56 subjects were successfully studied for 2 yr or until 30 months of age. RESULTS: Overall prevalence decreased from 71.4% to 47.9% when children were between 6 and 18 months of age, and we found a significant gender difference (males 63.6-55.0%, females 80.0-38.7%, p = 0.03). Of the 56 subjects, six had negative breath tests at all 6-month intervals, 10 were consistently positive, and 36 subjects had one or more negative tests after a positive test. The overall probability of acquiring H. pylori in a given 6-month period ranged between 0.28 and 0.38; the probability of clearing the infection was between 0.22 and 0.45. During the first 18 months after birth, male infants were more likely to acquire H. pylori and less likely to clear the infection than female infants. CONCLUSION: We conclude that H. pylori colonization in infants may be a reversible process.