Comparative analysis of the incidence of enteroparasitosis andthe COVID-19 pandemic profile in the city of Bananeiras - PB / Análise comparativa da incidência de enteroparasitoses e doperfil pandêmico da COVID-19 na cidade de Bananeiras - PB

Enteroparasitosis are diseases caused by parasitic agents present in the environment and in the gastrointestinal tract of living beings. In addition, they are still considered neglected diseases, but of great importance for public health, especially when they are related to secondary infections and currently their co-infection profile with COVID-19. The interaction of protozoa and/or helminths with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is timely and its signs and symptoms are confused with other pathogen relationships. In this way, this study aims to correlate the incidence of enteroparasitosis and COVID-19, in the pandemic period from 2020 to April 2022. This is a documentary and exploratory study of secondary data from laboratory tests of patients who were treated and diagnosed with COVID-19 and enteroparasitosis at Hospital Doutor Cloves Bezerra Cavalcante, Municipal Hospital of Bananeiras, Paraíba, Brazil. In the analysis of the database, a significant increase of approximately 48.85% in the incidence of COVID-19 cases from 2020 to 2021 stands out, remaining high until 2022. In contrast, cases of enteroparasites peaked at 48.74% in 2021, followed by an average reduction of 23.12%, with a deviation of 1.49%, in relation to the years 2020 and 2022. It was concluded that COVID-19 is predominantly associated with an increase in secondary infections, highlighting the crucial need to promote health education, improve basic sanitation and guarantee access to health services as essential components in combating the increase in parasitic infections, especially those related to viral pathologies.

As enteroparasitoses são enfermidades originadas por agentes parasitários presentes no meio ambiente e no trato gastrointestinal dos seres vivos. Ademais, ainda são consideradas doenças negligenciadas, porém de grande importância para a saúde pública, em especial, quando estão relacionadas com infecções secundárias e atualmente seu perfil de coinfecção com a COVID-19. A interação de protozoários e/ou helmintos com o vírus SARS-CoV-2 é oportuna e seus sinais e sintomas são confundidos com outras relações de patógenos. Desta maneira, este estudo visa correlacionar a incidência de enteroparasitoses e COVID-19, no período pandêmico de 2020 a abril de 2022. Trata--se de uma pesquisa documental e exploratória, de dados secundários dos exames laboratoriais de pacientes que foram atendidos e diagnosticados com COVID-19 e enteroparasitoses no Hospital Doutor Cloves Bezerra Cavalcante, Hospital Municipal de Bananeiras, Paraíba, Brasil. Na análise da base de dados, destaca-se um aumento significativo de aproximadamente 48,85% na incidência de casos de COVID-19 de 2020 a 2021, mantendo-se elevado até 2022. Em contraste, os casos de enteroparasitas atingiram um pico de 48,74% em 2021, seguido por uma redução média de 23,12%, com um desvio de 1,49%, em relação aos anos de 2020 e 2022. Conclui-se que a COVID-19 está predominantemente associada ao aumento de infecções secundárias, destacando a necessidade crucial de promover a educação em saúde, melhorar o saneamento básico e garantir o acesso aos serviços de saúde como componentes essenciais no combate ao aumento de infecções parasitárias, especialmente aquelas relacionadas a patologias virais.

Daily Chlorhexidine Bath for Health Care Associated Infection Prevention (CLEAN-IT): protocol for a multicenter cluster randomized crossover open-label trial.

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients are at increased risk of health care-associated infections due to various devices (central line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infection, and ventilator-associated pneumonia), which pose a significant threat to this population. Among several strategies, daily bathing with chlorhexidine digluconate, a water-soluble antiseptic, has been studied as an intervention to decrease the incidence of health care-associated infections in the intensive care unit; however, its ability to reduce all health care-associated infections due to various devices is unclear. We designed the Daily Chlorhexidine Bath for Health Care Associated Infection Prevention (CLEAN-IT) trial to assess whether daily chlorhexidine digluconate bathing reduces the incidence of health care-associated infections in critically ill patients compared with soap and water bathing. METHODS: The CLEAN-IT trial is a multicenter, open-label, cluster randomized crossover clinical trial. All adult patients admitted to the participating intensive care units will be included in the trial. Each cluster (intensive care unit) will be randomized to perform either initial chlorhexidine digluconate bathing or soap and water bathing with crossover for a period of 3 to 6 months, depending on the time of each center's entrance to the study, with a 1-month washout period between chlorhexidine digluconate bathing and soap and water bathing transitions. The primary outcome is the incidence of health care-associated infections due to devices. The secondary outcomes are the incidence of each specific health care-associated infection, rates of microbiological cultures positive for multidrug-resistant pathogens, antibiotic use, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, and intensive care unit and hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: The CLEAN-IT trial will be used to study feasible and affordable interventions that might reduce the health care-associated infection burden in critically ill patients.

Lack of Anticoagulant Use in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Increased Risk of Thromboembolic Events According to Sex: Insights from a Multicentric Brazilian Study. / Falta de Uso de Anticoagulantes em Pacientes com Fibrilação Atrial e Risco Aumentado de Eventos Tromboembólicos de Acordo com o Sexo: Insights de um Estudo Multicêntrico Brasileiro.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, and its presentation differs according to age and sex. Recent studies have revealed differences in AF among various demographic groups, including the Latin American population. OBJECTIVES: To better understand potential disparities in AF prevalence and treatment strategies in the Brazilian population through data from a large multicentric prospective registry. METHODS: The Rede D'Or AF registry is a multicenter prospective observational study including patients aged ≥ 18 years with AF who were seen in the emergency department of 32 tertiary hospitals in Brazil. Patients were characterized according to sex and other baseline characteristics and were classified according to previous anticoagulant use. The lack of anticoagulant use in patients with previous indications was analyzed. Statistical significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: The study data were from a total of 1955 patients enrolled. Male sex was more prevalent, and men were younger than the women. Due to an increased prevalence of previous AF episode and a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score, more women had indications for anticoagulant therapy; however, a significant proportion was not receiving this treatment. From 29 in-hospital deaths, 15 patients had previous indication for anticoagulation, but only 3 were using anticoagulants. CONCLUSION: This study revealed sex-related differences in the Brazilian population of patients with AF that are consistent with trends in high-income countries. The promotion of better implementation of anticoagulant and antithrombotic therapies to reduce the risk of death and thromboembolic events among women with AF in Brazil is crucial.

FUNDAMENTO: A fibrilação atrial (FA) é a arritmia cardíaca mais prevalente e sua apresentação difere de acordo com a idade e o sexo. Estudos recentes revelaram diferenças na FA entre vários grupos demográficos, incluindo a população latino-americana. OBJETIVOS: Melhor compreender as possíveis disparidades na prevalência da FA e nas estratégias de tratamento na população brasileira por meio de dados de um registro prospectivo multicêntrico de grande escala. MÉTODOS: O registro de FA da Rede D'Or é um estudo observacional prospectivo multicêntrico que incluiu pacientes com idade ≥ 18 anos com FA atendidos no pronto-socorro de 32 hospitais terciários no Brasil. Os pacientes foram caracterizados de acordo com o sexo e outras características basais e classificados de acordo com o uso prévio de anticoagulantes. Foi analisada a falta de uso de anticoagulantes em pacientes com indicações prévias. A significância estatística foi estabelecida em 5%. RESULTADOS: Os dados do estudo foram provenientes de um total de 1.955 pacientes inscritos. O sexo masculino foi mais prevalente e os homens eram mais jovens que as mulheres. Devido ao aumento da prevalência de episódios anteriores de FA e a um escore CHA2DS2-VASc mais elevado, mais mulheres tiveram indicação de terapia anticoagulante; no entanto, uma proporção significativa não estava recebendo esse tratamento. Dos 29 óbitos intra-hospitalares, 15 pacientes tinham indicação prévia para anticoagulação, mas apenas 3 estavam em uso de anticoagulantes. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo revelou diferenças relacionadas ao sexo na população brasileira de pacientes com FA que são consistentes com tendências em países de alta renda. A promoção de uma melhor implementação de terapias anticoagulantes e antitrombóticas para reduzir o risco de óbito e eventos tromboembólicos entre mulheres com FA no Brasil é crucial.

Effectiveness of Family Coping Interventions in Improving Problem-Solving Skills in the Care of Children and Adolescent Cancer Survivors during and after Treatment: A Scoping Review.

(1) Context: Cancer triggers significant changes in family dynamics. It is noteworthy that coping and problem-solving skills, particularly in situations involving cancer in children and adolescents, have not been adequately explored in the context of family adaptation. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of family interventions in coping to improve problem-solving skills in parents and/or caregivers of children and adolescents during and after oncological treatment. (2) Methods: This is a scoping review following the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR), from 2014 to 2024, in the databases LILACS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and PUBMED. (3) Results: Forty-five studies were eligible. Coping strategies were categorized as follows: (1) positive attitudes (including a sense of courage and hope, family support to enhance resilience, and future planning), (2) caregiver empowerment (involving acceptance of diagnosis, emotional distancing, and coping through religiosity), and (3) communication skills (encompassing professional communication, horizontal dialogue with healthcare teams, and sincere communication with friends and family). (4) Conclusions: Over time, families develop coping and problem-solving strategies that influence changes in family functioning patterns, aiding them in accepting, reinterpreting, and reframing ideas and feelings associated with neoplasia.

RGeasy: a reference gene analysis tool for gene expression studies via RT-qPCR.

Gene expression through RT-qPCR can be performed by the relative quantification method, which requires the expression normalization through reference genes. Therefore, it is essential to validate, experimentally, the candidate reference genes. Thus, although there are several studies that are performed to identify the most stable reference genes, most them validate genes for very specific conditions, not exploring the whole potential of the research since not all possible combinations of treatments and/or conditions of the study are explored. For this reason, new experiments must be conducted by researchers that have interest in analyzing gene expression of treatments and/or conditions present, but not explored, in these studies. Here, we present the RGeasy tool, which aims to facilitate the selection of reference genes, allowing the user to choose genes for a greater number of combinations of treatments/conditions, compared to the ones present in the original articles, through just a few clicks. RGeasy was validated with RT-qPCR data from gene expression studies performed in two coffee species, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, and it can be used for any animal, plant or microorganism species. In addition to displaying a rank of the most stable reference genes for each condition or treatment, the user also has access to the primer pairs for the selected reference genes.

Beyond the Off-Label: A Systematic Review of What We Know About Clozapine Use for Children.

Introduction: It is essential not to delay behavior management and control for aggression, violence, and impulsive behavior in young people. Clozapine has been widely used in adolescents and adults to manage violence and aggression in Schizophrenia. However, there are limited data on the use of clozapine in children, and no systematic review has addressed its use in this population. Objective and Methods: To better understand the conditions under which clozapine is used as a therapeutic alternative for nonschizophrenic diagnoses and to assess the current evidence supporting its prescription to children, a systematic review was conducted. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO under the ID CRD42024537707. Results: The review identified that all the studies used clozapine to address externalizing behavior, particularly aggressive behavior, and found positive outcomes supporting its use for treating children with treatment-resistant aggression. The studies also found that clozapine was well-tolerated in all cases. However, the studies were limited and mainly consisted of open trials without a control group. Conclusion: Further high-quality research is needed to establish precise guidelines for using clozapine in children.

Atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma for in-situ water treatment using a bubbling reactor.

Non-thermal plasma has been an emerging technology for water treatment for decades. In this study, we have designed and fabricated a bubbling plasma batch reactor using an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge with a hydrophobic porous membrane. The reactor performance is assessed for purifying synthetic contaminated water samples containing chemical contaminant sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a widely used antibiotic, and biological contaminant E. coli K12. The SMX decontamination tests indicate that the degradation process is not first-order and the reaction rate dwindle with increasing initial concentration. The yield at 50% removal achieves its highest value of 8.12 g/kWh for 50 mg/L SMX sample. For inactivation of E. coli K12 tests, the inactivation process is also not first-order, and the pathogen is completely inactivated for 102 CFU/mL and 104 CFU/mL cases after 10 min and 45 min of plasma treatment, respectively. For the 108 CFU/mL sample, a 5-log reduction is achieved after 60 min of treatment. The developed plasma reactor can achieve fast deployment in point of use, low cost for manufacturing, and simple for maintenance. Moreover, it can be used for in-situ water purification in future long duration crewed space missions as well as tackling with water pollution issues on our planet.

Droplet Digital PCR for Acinetobacter baumannii Diagnosis in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Samples from Patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.

Advanced diagnostic technologies have made accurate and precise diagnosis of pathogens easy. Herein, we present a new diagnostic method, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), to detect and quantify Acinetobacter baumannii in mini bronchoalveolar lavage (mini-BAL) samples. A. baumannii causes ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a severe healthcare infection affecting patients' lungs. VAP carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality, making its timely diagnosis crucial for prompt and effective management. Methodology. The assay performance was evaluated by comparing colonization data, quantitative culture results, and different generations of PCR (traditional PCR and Real-Time PCR-qPCR Taqman® and SYBR® Green). The ddPCR and qPCR Taqman® prove to be more sensitive than other molecular techniques. Reasonable analytical specificity was obtained with ddPCR, qPCR TaqMan®, and conventional PCR. However, qPCR SYBR® Green technology presented a low specificity, making the results questionable in clinical samples. DdPCR detected/quantified A. baumanni in more clinical samples than other methods (38.64% of the total samples). This emerging ddPCR technology offers promising advantages such as detection by more patients and direct quantification of pathogens without calibration curves.

Diversity, vertical stratification and detection of Leishmania DNA in sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) collected in the Mapinguari National Park, Brazilian Amazon.

This study aimed to assess the diversity patterns of sand fly fauna across different strata and detect Leishmania DNA in these insects in the Mapinguari National Park in Rondônia and Amazonas states, Northern Brazil. Sand flies were collected with "HP" light traps in the canopy (15 m) and at ground level (1 m) on two trails, during August and November 2021 and March and August 2022. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to identify Leishmania species. A total of 8,040 individuals (2,303♂ - 28.64 %, 5,737♀ - 71.36 %) were collected and 53 species and 13 genera were identified. The most abundant species were Psychodopygus chagasi (21.00 %), Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis (13.61 %) Psychodopygus davisi (11.69 %), Nyssomyia fraihai (10.58 %), Nyssomyia antunesi (6.68 %) and Nyssomyia richardwardi (5.55 %). Species diversity was greater in the canopy (Shannon index H' = 10.8 common species) when compared to ground level (H' = 10.5 common species). We observed a minimum infection rate of 0.45 % (22/4,868 females), in which Leishmania braziliensis DNA was found in Ps. chagasi and Le. lainsoni DNA in Ps. chagasi, Ny. richardwardi, Ps. ayrozai and Th. ubiquitalis. The minimum infection rate of Leishmania in the canopy was 0.47 % (19/4,031) and in the ground was 0.52 % (3/567). In the present study, we observed Le. lainsoni DNA in females of Ny. richardwardi for the first time. The data presented in this study contribute to understanding sand fly diversity and its distribution between the states of Rondônia and Amazonas. They may be useful for implementing targeted control measures to reduce the spread of leishmaniasis and implement entomological surveillance strategies.

The role of culture in the representation of probiotic foods.

Functional foods, and specifically probiotics, are important products present in retail worldwide. Probiotics comprise "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, can confer a health benefit on the host". This study aimed to investigate the effect of culture on probiotic foods social representation. A total of 818 consumers from seven countries (Argentina, Brazil, Honduras, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, and Slovenia) participated in the study. A free word association task was performed with the inductor term "probiotic food," followed by lemmatization, categorization, and prototypical analysis of the social representation. The results indicated that the term health was common in all countries studied, as well as other positive aspects such as benefits, well-being, and functional foods. This study helped to shed light and better understand the role of culture in the social representation of probiotics.

Molecular characterization of metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma in developing countries and its impact on clinical outcomes: LACOG 2018 translational study.

BACKGROUND: Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare malignancy. However, in developing countries the incidence rate is higher. The understanding of molecular alterations is essential for evaluating possible targets for more effective systemic therapies. METHODS: We retrospectively collected clinical data of metastatic PSCC (mPSCC) patients who had received at least one prior systemic treatment from 3 Brazilian hospitals. Tumor samples were evaluated using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) Foundation One DX and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The objective was to identify and describe somatic genomic alterations known to be functional or pathogenic and their association with survival outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were identified, 22 and 18 patients had tumor samples analyzed by IHC and NGS, respectively. PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥ 1%) was positive in 14 patients (63.6%). Regarding the genomic alterations, 16 patients (88.9%) had some clinically relevant genomic alterations. TP53, TERT, CDKN2A, PIK3CA, NOTCH1, and CDKN2B loss were identified in 66.7%, 50%, 50%, 33.3%, 27.8%, and 22.2% of the patients, respectively. No MSI or TMB high (≥10 mutations/MB) cases were identified. NOTCH1 mutation was identified only in HPV-negative patients and it was associated with worse OS (yes: 5.5 vs no: 12.8 months, P = .049) and progression-free survival (yes: 5.5 vs no: 11.7 months, P = .032). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that molecular alterations in mPSCC from developing countries are similar to those from developed countries. Predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response such as TMB high or MSI were not identified. Specific gene mutations may identify patients with worse prognoses and open new avenues for therapeutic development.

Occupational exposure to 50 ppm isoflurane impairs sperm parameters in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of occupational exposure to isoflurane on the sperm quality of mice, and to investigate whether cessation of exposure can restore seminal quality. METHODS: Mice were exposed to 50 ppm of isoflurane for 5 hours per day over a 30-day period. Following this exposure, they were euthanized at predetermined post-exposure intervals, and their sperm samples were analyzed for kinetics and viability parameters. RESULTS: Occupational exposure to isoflurane can adversely affect sperm at 50 ppm, a concentration deemed safe by international occupational health conventions in some countries. These effects are marked by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and genomic damage, alongside alterations in sperm kinetics and acrosomal integrity. Furthermore, cessation of exposure doesn't guarantee restoration of cellular quality. CONCLUSIONS: Isoflurane at 50 ppm, previously deemed safe by some countries, impairs sperm kinetics and viability, potentially directing the spermatogenic process towards infertility and apoptosis.

VATICAN (Ventilator-Associated Tracheobronchitis Initiative to Conduct Antibiotic Evaluation): protocol for a multicenter randomized open-label trial of watchful waiting versus antimicrobial therapy for ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis is a common condition among invasively ventilated patients in intensive care units, for which the best treatment strategy is currently unknown. We designed the VATICAN (Ventilator-Associated Tracheobronchitis Initiative to Conduct Antibiotic Evaluation) trial to assess whether a watchful waiting antibiotic treatment strategy is noninferior to routine antibiotic treatment for ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis regarding days free of mechanical ventilation. METHODS: VATICAN is a randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter noninferiority trial. Patients with suspected ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis without evidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia or hemodynamic instability due to probable infection will be assigned to either a watchful waiting strategy, without antimicrobial administration for ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis and prescription of antimicrobials only in cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia, sepsis or septic shock, or another infectious diagnosis, or to a routine antimicrobial treatment strategy for seven days. The primary outcome will be mechanical ventilation-free days at 28 days, and a key secondary outcome will be ventilator-associated pneumonia-free survival. Through an intention-to-treat framework with a per-protocol sensitivity analysis, the primary outcome analysis will address noninferiority with a 20% margin, which translates to a 1.5 difference in ventilator-free days. Other analyses will follow a superiority analysis framework. CONCLUSION: The VATICAN trial will follow all national and international ethical standards. We aim to publish the trial in a high-visibility general journal and present it at critical care and infectious disease conferences for dissemination. These results will likely be immediately applicable to the bedside upon trial completion and will provide information with a low risk of bias for guideline development.

The impact of immune recovery and treatment duration on disseminated histoplasmosis consolidation therapy in AIDS patients.

INTRODUCTION: The present study investigated the impact of immune recovery and the duration of antifungal adherence in the consolidation phase of disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients living in a hyperendemic area in northeastern Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with DH/AIDS, admitted to the São José Hospital between 2010 and 2015, who continued histoplasmosis consolidation therapy at the outpatient clinic were studied. The follow-up duration was at least 24 months. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients used itraconazole 200-400 mg/day or amphotericin B deoxycholate weekly during the consolidation phase, and six patients relapsed during follow-up. The overall median duration of consolidation antifungal use was 250 days [IQR 101 - 372]. Antifungal withdrawal by medical decision occurred in 41 patients (70.7 %) after a median of 293 days [IQR 128 - 372] of use; 16 patients discontinued by their own decision, with a median of 106 days [IQR 37 - 244] of therapy; three patients had no information available, and nine continued on AF therapy. The median CD4+ T-cell count in the group without relapse was 248 cells/µL [IQR 115-355] within 6 months after admission; conversely, in the relapse group, the median cell count remained below 100 cells/µL. Irregular adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was the leading risk factor associated with relapse and death (p< 0.01). DISCUSSION: The regular use of HAART, combined with immune recovery, proved to be highly effective in preventing relapses in DH/AIDS patients, suggesting that long-term antifungal therapy may not be necessary.

Decreased Long-Term Survival of Patients With Newly Diagnosed Cancer Discharged Home After Unplanned ICU Admission: A Prospective Observational Study.

IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the 18-month survival between patients with newly diagnosed cancer discharged home after early unplanned ICU admission and those without early unplanned ICU admission; we also evaluated the frequency and risk factors for early unplanned ICU admission. DESIGN: Observational study with prospectively collected data from September 2019 to June 2021 and 18 months follow-up. SETTING: Single dedicated cancer center in São Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: We screened consecutive adults with suspected cancer and included those with histologically proven cancer from among 20 highly prevalent cancers. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The exposure was early unplanned ICU admission, defined as admission for medical reasons or urgent surgery during the first 6 months after cancer diagnosis. The main outcome was 18-month survival after cancer diagnosis, and the main analysis was Cox's proportional hazards model adjusted for confounders and immortal time bias. Propensity score matching was used in the sensitivity analysis. We screened 4738 consecutive adults with suspected cancer and included 3348 patients. Three hundred twelve (9.3%) had early unplanned ICU admission, which was associated with decreased 18-month survival both in the unadjusted (hazard ratio, 4.03; 95% CI, 2.89-5.62) and adjusted (hazard ratio, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.29-2.64) models. The sensitivity analysis confirmed the results because the groups were balanced after matching, and the 18-month survival of patients with early ICU admission was lower compared with patients without early ICU admission (87.0% vs. 93.9%; p = 0.01 log-rank test). Risk factors for early unplanned ICU admission were advanced age, comorbidities, worse performance status, socioeconomic deprivation, metastatic tumors, and hematologic malignancies. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with newly diagnosed cancer discharged home after early unplanned ICU admission have decreased 18-month survival compared with patients without early unplanned ICU admission.

Quantifying Muscle Regeneration: Activated Muscle Satellite Cells and New Regenerated Myofibers in Chronic and Acute Degeneration Models.

Regeneration is a remarkable characteristic of the skeletal muscle. Triggered by common lesions, regeneration is stimulated resulting in muscle fiber repair and restoration of muscle homeostasis in normal muscle. In genetic dystrophic muscle, the cycle of degeneration/regeneration is an endless loop that leads to impaired regeneration and substitution of muscle fibers by connective and adipose tissue, causing muscle weakness. Identification and characterization of muscle regeneration steps can help discover potential therapy targets for muscle diseases and aging. Muscle regeneration markers such as the number of satellite cells in the muscle, the proportion of activated satellite cells, and the quantity of regenerating muscle fiber can be quantified using immunolabeling.Here we are presenting a quantitative method to measure muscle regeneration that can be applied to different proposals. To demonstrate the protocol applicability, we used models for acute and chronic muscle injuries. As model of acute degeneration, a wild-type C57BL6 mice with muscle injury induced by electroporation was used, and the muscle was analyzed after 5 and 10 days post-injury. DMDmdx mouse muscle was used as a model of chronic degeneration. The methodologies presented here are among the gold standard methodologies for muscle regeneration analysis and can be easily applied to any type of muscle regeneration study.

Rootstock Effects on Fruit Yield and Quality of 'BRS Tainá' Seedless Table Grape in Semi-Arid Tropical Conditions.

In viticulture, choosing the most suitable rootstock for a specific scion cultivar is an efficient and cost-effective way to increase yield and enhance the physicochemical characteristics of the fruit. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of the 'BRS Tainá' grapevine on different rootstocks under the conditions of the Sub-Middle São Francisco Valley. The main experimental factor consisted of eight rootstocks (IAC 313, IAC 572, IAC 766, 101-14 MgT, Paulsen 1103, Ramsey, SO4, and Teleki 5C), arranged in randomized blocks with four replicates. The experiment was conducted over four production cycles, from 2021 to 2023, in a commercial crop area in Petrolina, PE, Brazil. There were significant effects of rootstocks for the yield and number of bunches per plant, as well as berry length and firmness. 'BRS Tainá' achieved the highest yield (22.2 kg per plant) when grafted onto the Paulsen 1103 rootstock, which was superior to the yield on 101-14 MgT, IAC 313, and IAC 572 rootstocks. The highest number of bunches (88) was obtained with 'BRS Tainá' grafted on Paulsen 1103, while the lowest number (63) was obtained on IAC 572; both these rootstocks were not significantly different from the other rootstocks. For all scion-rootstock combinations, the mean values for soluble solid (SS) content, titratable acidity (TA), and the SS/TA ratio were similar to those previously described for 'BRS Tainá', meeting the commercialization standard. The results for the yield and number of bunches per plant indicate the suitability of grafting 'BRS Tainá' on Paulsen 1103 under the semi-arid tropical conditions of the São Francisco Valley.

Small Nucleolar RNAs in Solid Tumors: A Brief Review of the Literature on These Potential Biomarkers.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to conduct an integrative review, addressing the key findings, biological functions, and clinical significance of these biomolecules in solid tumors. METHODS: This document analyzes the main data on the involvement of snoRNAs in solid tumors. For this, Pubmed and Science direct were used, with keywords. Additionally, a search for the host gene was conducted using the snoDB tool, and its chromosomal location was identified using the Hugo Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC). RESULTS: According to research conducted in the literature, the majority of snoRNAs were found to be overexpressed and described as regulators of processes such as invasion, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. They are associated with clinical prognostic factors such as metastasis and worse survival. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is essential to expand the investigation of snoRNAs in oncology across different types of tumors. The utilization of these biomolecules may pave the way for innovative clinical applications, such as their use in the early detection of neoplasms in non-invasive samples and as therapeutic targets. Broadening research on snoRNAs across various tumor types is crucial.

Assessing reproductive effects and epigenetic responses in Austrolebias charrua exposed to Roundup Transorb®: Insights from miRNA profiling and molecular interaction analysis.

This study examines the effects of Roundup Transorb® (RDT) exposure on reproductive functions and ovarian miRNA expression in Austrolebias charrua. Exposure to RDT (at 0.065 or 5 mg. L-1 for 96 h) significantly disrupts fertility, evidenced by changes in fertilization rates and egg diameter. Profiling of ovarian miRNAs identified a total 205 miRNAs in A. charrua. Among these, three miRNAs were upregulated (miR-10b-5p, miR-132-3p, miR-100-5p), while ten miRNAs were downregulated (miR-499-5p, miR-375, miR-205-5p, miR-206-3p, miR-203a-3p, miR-133b-3p, miR-203b-5p, miR-184, miR-133a-3p, miR-2188-5p) compared to non-exposed fish. This study reveals that differentially expressed miRNAs are linked to molecular pathways such as steroid hormone biosynthesis, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, bioenergetics, and antioxidant defense. It also analyzes molecular interactions between miRNAs and target genes during RDT exposure in annual killifish, providing insights into biomarkers in ecotoxicology. Moreover, it provides scope for developing environmental health assessment models based on epigenomic endpoints, supporting the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services through the quantification of stress responses in living organisms exposed to pesticides.