IFNγ protects motor neurons from oxidative stress via enhanced global protein synthesis in FUS-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 6 (ALS6) is a familial subtype of ALS linked to Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) gene mutation. FUS mutations lead to decreased global protein synthesis, but the mechanism that drives this has not been established. Here, we used ALS6 patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSCs) to study the effect of the ALS6 FUSR521H mutation on the translation machinery in motor neurons (MNs). We find, in agreement with findings of others, that protein synthesis is decreased in FUSR521H MNs. Furthermore, FUSR521H MNs are more sensitive to oxidative stress and display reduced expression of TGF-ß and mTORC gene pathways when stressed. Finally, we show that IFNγ treatment reduces apoptosis of FUSR521H MNs exposed to oxidative stress and partially restores the translation rates in FUSR521H MNs. Overall, these findings suggest that a functional IFNγ response is important for FUS-mediated protein synthesis, possibly by FUS nuclear translocation in ALS6.

Práticas extensionistas sob a perspectiva teórica das universidades promotoras da saúde / Prácticas de extensión desde la perspectiva teórica de las universidades promotoras de salud / Extension practices from the theoretical perspective of health-promoting universities

Objetivo:analisar relações existentes entre proposta conceitual do movimento das Universidades Promotoras da Saúde e projetos de extensão de uma universidade, sob perspectiva de uma análise documental. Método:estudo de caso documental com análise qualitativa descritiva realizado com base nos documentos de registros extensionistas de uma universidade pública do estado do Rio de Janeiro. A análise deste estudo teve como aporte teórico a proposta conceitual do movimento das Universidades Promotoras da Saúde. Resultados:identificaram-se 11 projetos que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão e, foram distribuídos em cinco categorias. Conclusão:é necessário vincular a promoção da saúde ao projeto político pedagógico da Universidade, possibilitando a valorização das experiências formativas, no âmbito das histórias de vida dos sujeitos e das suas vivências comunitárias e no âmbito da política institucional. Entretanto, tais iniciativas ainda são escassas, gerando um hiato entre expectativa e realidade.

Objective:to analyze existing relationships between the conceptual proposal of the health promoting universities movement and university extension projects, from the perspective of a documental analysis. Method:documental case study with descriptive qualitative analysis based on records documents from a public university in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The analysis of this study had as theoretical contribution the conceptual proposal of the Health Promoting Universities movement. Results: 11projects thatmet the inclusion criteria were identified and distributed into five categories. Conclusion:it is necessary to link health promotion to the University's political pedagogical project, enabling the valorization of formative experiences, within the scope of the subjects' life stories, their community experiences and within the scope of institutional policy. However, such initiatives are still scarce, creating a gap between expectations and reality.

Objetivo:analizar relaciones existentes entre propuesta conceptual del movimiento Universidades Promotoras de Salud y los proyectos de extensión de una universidad, desde la perspectiva de un análisis documental. Método:estudio de caso documental con análisis cualitativo descriptivo basado en registros extensión de una universidad pública del estado de Río de Janeiro. El análisis de este estudio tuvo como soporte teórico del movimiento de Universidades Promotoras de Salud. Resultados:se identificaron once proyectos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y se distribuyeron en cinco categorías. Conclusión:es necesario vincular la promoción de la salud al proyecto político pedagógico de la Universidad, posibilitando la valorización de las experiencias formativas, en el ámbito de las historias de vida de los sujetos y de sus experiencias comunitarias y en elámbito de la política institucional. Sin embargo, tales iniciativas aún son escasas, creando una brecha entre las expectativas y la realidad.

Colaborações de projetos de pesquisa e extensão na promoção da saúde de trabalhadores e estudantes / Collaborations of research and outreach projects in promoting the health of workers and students

Objetivo: Mapear projetos de pesquisa e extensão de um instituto federal voltados para a promoção da saúde com base no referencial teórico das Universidades Promotoras da Saúde. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa documental, na qual mapeou-se, por meio de consulta pública a editais de seleção, projetos de pesquisa e extensão de um instituto federal, com vigência no período de 2016 a 2020. Realizou-se análise descritiva e interpretativa de títulos e resumos, identificando os projetos voltados para promoção da saúde em ambiente institucional. Resultados: Selecionou-se 18 projetos, sendo o ano com maior prevalência 2020 e o público-alvo predominante estudantes e trabalhadores. Os principais aspectos de promoção da saúde abordados foram: Bem-estar escolar; Hábitos saudáveis; Protagonismo em saúde; e Ambientes saudáveis. Conclusão: O instituto analisado possui projetos que o aproxima do movimento das Universidades Promotoras da Saúde, porém é importante incentivar abordagens de trabalho intersetoriais e multidisciplinares e ampliar a capacitação e a formação acadêmica em Promoção da Saúde. Descritores: Promoção da saúde; Serviços de Saúde Escolar; Saúde do trabalhador; Qualidade de vida.

Objective: To map the research and outreach projects of a federal institute focused on health promotion based on the theoretical framework of Health Promoting Universities.Methods: This is a documentary research, in which it was mapped, through public consultation to the selection notices, research and outreach projectsof a federal institute, effective from 2016 to 2020. A descriptive and interpretive analysis of titles and abstracts was carried out, identifying the projects aimed at health promotion in an institutional environment. Results: Eighteen projects were selected, the year with the highest prevalence 2020 and the predominant target audience students and workers. The main aspects of health promotion addressed were: School well-being; Healthy habits; Protagonism in health; and Healthy environments. Conclusion: The analyzed institute has projects that bring it closer to the movement of Health Promoting Universities, but it is important to encourage intersectoral and multidisciplinary work approaches and expand academic training in Health Promotion. Descriptors: Health Promotion; School Health Services; Occupational Health; Quality of life.

Integrated global assessment of the natural forest carbon potential.

Forests are a substantial terrestrial carbon sink, but anthropogenic changes in land use and climate have considerably reduced the scale of this system1. Remote-sensing estimates to quantify carbon losses from global forests2-5 are characterized by considerable uncertainty and we lack a comprehensive ground-sourced evaluation to benchmark these estimates. Here we combine several ground-sourced6 and satellite-derived approaches2,7,8 to evaluate the scale of the global forest carbon potential outside agricultural and urban lands. Despite regional variation, the predictions demonstrated remarkable consistency at a global scale, with only a 12% difference between the ground-sourced and satellite-derived estimates. At present, global forest carbon storage is markedly under the natural potential, with a total deficit of 226 Gt (model range = 151-363 Gt) in areas with low human footprint. Most (61%, 139 Gt C) of this potential is in areas with existing forests, in which ecosystem protection can allow forests to recover to maturity. The remaining 39% (87 Gt C) of potential lies in regions in which forests have been removed or fragmented. Although forests cannot be a substitute for emissions reductions, our results support the idea2,3,9 that the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of diverse forests offer valuable contributions to meeting global climate and biodiversity targets.

The global biogeography of tree leaf form and habit.

Understanding what controls global leaf type variation in trees is crucial for comprehending their role in terrestrial ecosystems, including carbon, water and nutrient dynamics. Yet our understanding of the factors influencing forest leaf types remains incomplete, leaving us uncertain about the global proportions of needle-leaved, broadleaved, evergreen and deciduous trees. To address these gaps, we conducted a global, ground-sourced assessment of forest leaf-type variation by integrating forest inventory data with comprehensive leaf form (broadleaf vs needle-leaf) and habit (evergreen vs deciduous) records. We found that global variation in leaf habit is primarily driven by isothermality and soil characteristics, while leaf form is predominantly driven by temperature. Given these relationships, we estimate that 38% of global tree individuals are needle-leaved evergreen, 29% are broadleaved evergreen, 27% are broadleaved deciduous and 5% are needle-leaved deciduous. The aboveground biomass distribution among these tree types is approximately 21% (126.4 Gt), 54% (335.7 Gt), 22% (136.2 Gt) and 3% (18.7 Gt), respectively. We further project that, depending on future emissions pathways, 17-34% of forested areas will experience climate conditions by the end of the century that currently support a different forest type, highlighting the intensification of climatic stress on existing forests. By quantifying the distribution of tree leaf types and their corresponding biomass, and identifying regions where climate change will exert greatest pressure on current leaf types, our results can help improve predictions of future terrestrial ecosystem functioning and carbon cycling.

Profile of fluency in spontaneous speech, reading, and retelling of texts by adults who stutter. / Perfil da fluência na fala espontânea, leitura e no reconto de textos de adultos que gaguejam.

PURPOSE: to describe the profile of fluency concerning the typology of disfluencies, speed, and frequency of disruptions in spontaneous speech, reading, and retelling; to compare the fluency profile in adults who stutter in spontaneous speech, reading, and retelling of text. METHODS: The present work is a cross-sectional comparative study with a sample composed of 15 adults who stutter of both sexes, with higher education or equivalent to complete elementary school II. Samples were collected in the tasks of spontaneous speech, reading, and text retelling through video calls made individually with the participants. The first 200 syllables expressed in each task were transcribed and analyzed according to the Fluency Profile Assessment Protocol (FPAP). The study compared the frequency of common and stuttering disfluencies and the speed in the different tasks surveyed. The Kruskal & Wallis test was used together with Duncan's multiple comparisons test to compare the medians and verify possible differences between the tasks researched with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The reading task presented a lower number of common disfluencies and a percentage of speech discontinuity about spontaneous speech and retelling tasks. No statistically significant differences were found between stuttering disfluencies in the three tasks surveyed. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there are differences in the occurrence of common disfluencies - hesitations, interjections, and revisions - and in the percentage of speech discontinuity during an oral reading of adults who stutter concerning spontaneous speech and text retelling.

OBJETIVO: descrever o perfil da fluência em relação à tipologia das disfluências, velocidade e frequência de rupturas na fala espontânea, na leitura e no reconto; comparar o perfil da fluência em adultos que gaguejam na fala espontânea, na leitura e no reconto de texto. MÉTODO: O trabalho é um estudo transversal comparativo com amostra composta por 15 adultos que gaguejam de ambos os sexos, com formação superior ou equivalente ao ensino fundamental II completo. Foram coletadas amostras nas tarefas de fala espontânea, leitura e reconto de texto por meio de video chamadas realizadas individualmente. As 200 primeiras sílabas expressas de cada tarefa foram transcritas e analisadas segundo o Protocolo de Avaliação do Perfil da Fluência (PAPF). O estudo comparou a frequência das disfluências comuns e gagas e a velocidade nas tarefas pesquisadas. Adotou-se o teste de Kruskal & Wallis em conjunto com o de comparações múltiplas de Duncan para comparar as medianas e verificar possíveis diferenças entre as tarefas pesquisadas com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: A tarefa de leitura apresentou menor número de disfluências comuns e percentual de descontinuidade de fala em relação às tarefas de fala espontânea e reconto. Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre as disfluências gagas nas três tarefas pesquisadas. CONCLUSÃO: Este trabalho mostrou que existem diferenças na ocorrência das disfluências comuns - hesitações, interjeições e revisões - e no percentual de descontinuidade de fala durante a leitura oral de adultos que gaguejam em relação à fala espontânea e ao reconto de texto.

Fluency and reading comprehension as a performance indicator in the 3rd year of elementary school. / A fluência e compreensão leitora como indicador de desempenho no 3o ano do Ensino Fundamental.

PURPOSE: to verify whether fluency and reading comprehension vary throughout the third year of elementary school and can be used as performance indicators in reading. METHODS: this is a prospective longitudinal study. 53 children participated in the study, regardless of gender. Four assessments were carried out throughout the year, using the LEPIC software to record the reading made by the children, recording reading errors, as well as the answers to questions regarding comprehension. RESULTS: there was an evolution of reading fluency and literal comprehension throughout the tests, but not in inferential comprehension. CONCLUSION: reading fluency and literal comprehension are good performance indicators in the third year of elementary school.

OBJETIVO: verificar se a fluência e a compreensão leitora variam ao longo do terceiro ano do Ensino Fundamental, podendo ser utilizados como indicadores de desempenho em leitura. MÉTODO: trata-se de estudo longitudinal prospectivo. Participaram do estudo 53 crianças, sem distinção de sexo. Foram realizadas quatro avaliações ao longo do ano, utilizando-se do software LEPIC para gravar a leitura feita pelas crianças, registrar os erros de leitura, bem como as respostas às questões referentes à compreensão. RESULTADOS: observou-se evolução da fluência de leitura e na compreensão literal ao longo das testagens, mas não na compreensão inferencial. CONCLUSÃO: a fluência de leitura e a compreensão literal apresentam-se como bons indicadores de desempenho no terceiro ano do Ensino Fundamental.

Asymmetric response of Amazon forest water and energy fluxes to wet and dry hydrological extremes reveals onset of a local drought-induced tipping point.

Understanding the effects of intensification of Amazon basin hydrological cycling-manifest as increasingly frequent floods and droughts-on water and energy cycles of tropical forests is essential to meeting the challenge of predicting ecosystem responses to climate change, including forest "tipping points". Here, we investigated the impacts of hydrological extremes on forest function using 12+ years of observations (between 2001-2020) of water and energy fluxes from eddy covariance, along with associated ecological dynamics from biometry, at the Tapajós National Forest. Measurements encompass the strong 2015-2016 El Niño drought and La Niña 2008-2009 wet events. We found that the forest responded strongly to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO): Drought reduced water availability for evapotranspiration (ET) leading to large increases in sensible heat fluxes (H). Partitioning ET by an approach that assumes transpiration (T) is proportional to photosynthesis, we found that water stress-induced reductions in canopy conductance (Gs ) drove T declines partly compensated by higher evaporation (E). By contrast, the abnormally wet La Niña period gave higher T and lower E, with little change in seasonal ET. Both El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events resulted in changes in forest structure, manifested as lower wet-season leaf area index. However, only during El Niño 2015-2016, we observed a breakdown in the strong meteorological control of transpiration fluxes (via energy availability and atmospheric demand) because of slowing vegetation functions (via shutdown of Gs and significant leaf shedding). Drought-reduced T and Gs , higher H and E, amplified by feedbacks with higher temperatures and vapor pressure deficits, signaled that forest function had crossed a threshold, from which it recovered slowly, with delay, post-drought. Identifying such tipping point onsets (beyond which future irreversible processes may occur) at local scale is crucial for predicting basin-scale threshold-crossing changes in forest energy and water cycling, leading to slow-down in forest function, potentially resulting in Amazon forests shifting into alternate degraded states.

Native diversity buffers against severity of non-native tree invasions.

Determining the drivers of non-native plant invasions is critical for managing native ecosystems and limiting the spread of invasive species1,2. Tree invasions in particular have been relatively overlooked, even though they have the potential to transform ecosystems and economies3,4. Here, leveraging global tree databases5-7, we explore how the phylogenetic and functional diversity of native tree communities, human pressure and the environment influence the establishment of non-native tree species and the subsequent invasion severity. We find that anthropogenic factors are key to predicting whether a location is invaded, but that invasion severity is underpinned by native diversity, with higher diversity predicting lower invasion severity. Temperature and precipitation emerge as strong predictors of invasion strategy, with non-native species invading successfully when they are similar to the native community in cold or dry extremes. Yet, despite the influence of these ecological forces in determining invasion strategy, we find evidence that these patterns can be obscured by human activity, with lower ecological signal in areas with higher proximity to shipping ports. Our global perspective of non-native tree invasion highlights that human drivers influence non-native tree presence, and that native phylogenetic and functional diversity have a critical role in the establishment and spread of subsequent invasions.

Capybara Oil Improves Renal Pathophysiology and Inflammation in Obese Mice.

Obesity is an inflammatory disease associated with secondary diseases such as kidney disease, which can cause lipotoxicity, inflammation and loss of organ function. Polyunsaturated fatty acids act in the production of lipid mediators and have anti-inflammatory characteristics. In this work, the objective was to evaluate renal histopathology in obese mice and the effects of treatment with capybara oil (CO) (5000 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks). Parameters such as body mass, lipid profile, systolic blood pressure, urinary creatinine and protein excretion, structure and ultrastructure of the renal cortex, fibrosis, tissue inflammation and oxidative stress were analyzed. CO treatment in obese mice showed improvement in the lipid profile and reduction in systolic blood pressure levels, in addition to beneficial remodeling of the renal cortex. Our data demonstrated that CO decreased inflammation, oxidative stress and renal fibrosis, as evidenced by quantifying the expression of TNF-α, IL-10, CAT, SOD, α-SMA and TGF-ß. Although treatment with CO did not show improvement in renal function, ultrastructural analysis showed that the treatment was effective in restoring podocytes and pedicels, with restructuring of the glomerular filtration barrier. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that treatment with CO is effective in reducing kidney damage, being considered a promising treatment for obesity.

Molecular characterization of Brazilian FeLV strains in São Luis, Maranhão Brazil.

The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) belongs to the Retroviridae family and Gammaretrovirus genus, and causes a variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases in domestic cats (Felis catus), such as thymic and multicentric lymphomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, acute myeloid leukemia, aplastic anemia, and immunodeficiency. The aim of the present study was to carry out the molecular characterization of FeLV-positive samples and determine the circulating viral subtype in the city of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, as well as identify its phylogenetic relationship and genetic diversity. The FIV Ac/FeLV Ag Test Kit (Alere™) and the commercial immunoenzymatic assay kit (Alere™) were used to detect the positive samples, which were subsequently confirmed by ELISA (ELISA - SNAP® Combo FeLV/FIV). To confirm the presence of proviral DNA, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the target fragments of 450, 235, and 166 bp of the FeLV gag gene. For the detection of FeLV subtypes, nested PCR was performed for FeLV-A, B, and C, with amplification of 2350-, 1072-, 866-, and 1755-bp fragments for the FeLV env gene. The results obtained by nested PCR showed that the four positive samples amplified the A and B subtypes. The C subtype was not amplified. There was an AB combination but no ABC combination. Phylogenetic analysis revealed similarities (78% bootstrap) between the subtype circulating in Brazil and FeLV-AB and with the subtypes of Eastern Asia (Japan) and Southeast Asia (Malaysia), demonstrating that this subtype possesses high genetic variability and a differentiated genotype.

Clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine development: a global overview.

This study aims to report analyses regarding the global distribution of institutions involved in clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines throughout February 2022. We retrieved global data from the World Health Organization report on vaccine development. These data allowed us to identify project institutions and plot their geographic coordinates. We produced a georeferenced map using an R programming environment and, based on the geographical location of vaccine developers, we analyzed the subcontinental distribution of clinical trials and the nature of the vaccines. Regionally, South-Southeast Asian countries carried out more clinical trials than any other region, proportionally, although this happened solely for mature technologies. Few trials were under implementation in Latin America and Africa. Our findings confirm previous studies on the regional concentration in the development of technology. However, our contribution lies in showing these phenomena for COVID-19 vaccines in specific subcontinents and technologies, at a country level. Our data underscores which subcontinents perform very few clinical trials for COVID-19 and seem to be ill-prepared for future disease outbreaks, and if these become epidemics or even pandemics and require domestic vaccine development or production. We also consider the case of Brazil, which did not finish the complete cycle of COVID-19 vaccine development in the indicated period; but, with favorable policies, it has potential to engage further in COVID-19 vaccine technology.

Small-fibre Neuropathy in Patients with Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Type 8.

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease of the nervous system that primarily affects motor neurons. ALS type 8 (ALS8) is a familiar form with predominant involvement of lower motor neurons, tremor, and slow progression. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe sensory involvement in a cohort of ALS8 patients and compare it with the characteristics of sporadic ALS (sALS) patients and controls. METHODS: We compared data from 40 ALS8 and 10 sALS patients assessed by neurological evaluation and electrophysiological study. Skin biopsies were performed in these patients and 12 controls for analysis of intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density by protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The ALS8 group was younger than the sALS group at the onset of symptoms (p < 0.05) and had a longer disease evolution (p < 0.01). Sensory abnormalities were evident in 35% of the ALS8 and 30% of the sALS patients by neurological examination, and all ALS patients presented normal sensory nerve action potentials. Despite being similar in the ALS8 and sALS groups, IENF density in the ALS8 group was lower than that in the controls (p < 0.0005). In the ALS8 group, IENF density was significantly lower in patients with impairment of vibratory sensation than in those without this finding (p < 0.05) and in females than in males (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sensory impairment and decreased IENF density are present in ALS8 patients at a frequency and intensity similar to that in the sALS group.

Estilo de vida de trabalhadores da educação de um instituto federal durante a pandemia de covid-19 / Lifestyle of education workers at a federal institute during the covid-19 pandemic / Estilo de vida de los trabajadores de la educación en un instituto federal durante la pandemia del covid-19

O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o estilo de vida de trabalhadores da educação de um Instituto Federal durante o período de isolamento social provocado pela Covid-19. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de abordagem quantitativa, com objetivo descritivo, que utilizou para coleta de dados o questionário estilo de vida fantástico, o qual foi aplicado a trabalhadores da educação de um instituto federal do estado do Rio de Janeiro. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio de estatística descritiva. Participaram 69 trabalhadores, dos quais 58% eram docentes e 42% técnicos administrativos. Verificou- se que os trabalhadores, dentro do possível, alcançaram resultados promissores na maior parte dos domínios. Entretanto, critérios como atividade física, nutrição, sono, tipo de comportamento e introspecção demonstraram fragilidade. Conclui-se que os participantes aderem a um estilo de vida saudável, porém é necessário incentivar o desenvolvimento de projetos com abordagens de trabalho intersetoriais e multidisciplinares, promovendo, assim, uma participação coletiva na construção de ambientes escolares saudáveis e com ações voltadas à promoção de um estilo de vida adequado aos trabalhadores.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the lifestyle of education workers at a Federal Institute during the period of social isolation caused by Covid-19. This is a research with a quantitative approach, with a descriptive objective, which used the fantastic lifestyle questionnaire for data collection, which was applied to education workers at a federal institute in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. 69 workers participated, of which 58% were teachers and 42% administrative technicians. It was found that workers, as far as possible, achieved promising results in most domains. However, criteria such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep, type of behavior and introspection showed weakness. It is concluded that the participants adhere to a healthy lifestyle, but it is necessary to encourage the development of projects with intersectoral and multidisciplinary work approaches, thus promoting collective participation in the construction of healthy school environments and with actions aimed at promoting a lifestyle suitable for workers.

El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el estilo de vida de los trabajadores de la educación de un Instituto Federal durante el período de aislamiento social provocado por la Covid-19. Se trata de una investigación con enfoque cuantitativo, con objetivo descriptivo, que utilizó el cuestionario estilo de vida fantástico para la recolección de datos, que fue aplicado a trabajadores de la educación en un instituto federal en el estado de Río de Janeiro. El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante estadística descriptiva. Participaron 69 trabajadores, de los cuales el 58% fueron docentes y el 42% técnicos administrativos. Se encontró que los trabajadores, en la medida de lo posible, lograron resultados prometedores en la mayoría de los dominios. Sin embargo, criterios como actividad física, alimentación, sueño, tipo de conducta e introspección mostraron debilidad. Se concluye que los participantes adhieren a un estilo de vida saludable, pero es necesario incentivar el desarrollo de proyectos con enfoques de trabajo intersectorial y multidisciplinario, promoviendo así la participación colectiva en la construcción de ambientes escolares saludables y con acciones encaminadas a promover un estilo de vida adecuado para trabajadores.