The sound of silent RNA in tuberculosis and the lncRNA role on infection.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and Diabetes Mellitus is one of the major comorbidities (TB/DM) associated with the disease. A total of 103 differentially expressed ncRNAs have been identified in the TB and TB/DM comparisons. A machine learning algorithm was employed to identify the most informative lncRNAs: ADM-DT, LINC02009, LINC02471, SOX2-OT, and GK-AS1. These lncRNAs presented substantial accuracy in classifying TB from HC (AUCs >0.85) and TB/DM from HC (AUCs >0.90) in the other three countries. Genes with significant correlations with the five lncRNAs enriched common pathways in Brazil and India for both TB and TB/DM. This suggests that lncRNAs play an important role in the regulation of genes related to the TB immune response.

Effectiveness of the self-regulation educational program in increasing knowledge about COVID-19 in Peruvian soldiers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of the educational program based on self-regulation of learning in the level of knowledge about COVID-19 in the soldiers. METHODS: Pre-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design with a single group, carried out in 2020. 179 soldiers from Puno, Peru participated. Two expository-participatory sessions and a demonstrative workshop were developed. A valid (Aiken's V = 0.69) and reliable (McDonald's Omega = 0.81) questionnaire was used. The Friedman's test was used to compare the results pre and post-test. RESULTS: The level of knowledge about COVID-19 and in two of its dimensions changed from poor (pre-test) to regular (post-test). However, in the preventive measures dimension, it changed from poor (pre-test) to excellent (post-test). CONCLUSION: The proposed educational intervention was effective in increasing knowledge about COVID-19 in the soldiers, mainly in terms of preventive measures.

Effectiveness of the self-regulation educational program in increasing knowledge about COVID-19 in Peruvian soldiers / Efetividade do Programa Educacional de Autorregulação no Aumento do Conhecimento da COVID-19 em Militares Peruanos / Efectividad del Programa educativo de autorregulación en incrementar conocimientos sobre COVID-19 en militares peruanos

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the educational program based on self-regulation of learning in the level of knowledge about COVID-19 in the soldiers. Methods: Pre-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design with a single group, carried out in 2020. 179 soldiers from Puno, Peru participated. Two expository-participatory sessions and a demonstrative workshop were developed. A valid (Aiken's V = 0.69) and reliable (McDonald's Omega = 0.81) questionnaire was used. The Friedman's test was used to compare the results pre and post-test. Results: The level of knowledge about COVID-19 and in two of its dimensions changed from poor (pre-test) to regular (post-test). However, in the preventive measures dimension, it changed from poor (pre-test) to excellent (post-test). Conclusion: The proposed educational intervention was effective in increasing knowledge about COVID-19 in the soldiers, mainly in terms of preventive measures.

RESUMO Objetivo: determinar a efetividade do programa educacional baseado na autorregulação da aprendizagem a respeito do nível de conhecimento da COVID-19 em militares. Métodos: estudo pré-experimental de desenho pré-teste e pós-teste com um grupo só, realizado em 2020. Participaram 179 militares de Puno, Peru. Duas sessões expositivo-participativas e uma oficina demonstrativa foram desenvolvidas. Foi utilizado um questionário válido (V de Aiken = 0,69) e fiável (Ômega de McDonald = 0,81). O teste de Friedman foi empregado para comparar os resultados em pré e pós-teste. Resultados: o nível de conhecimento sobre a COVID-19 em duas das dimensões mudou de deficiente (pré-teste) para regular (pós-teste). Contudo, na dimensão de medidas preventivas, passou de deficiente (pré-teste) para excelente (pós-teste). Conclusão: a intervenção educacional proposta foi eficaz no aumento do conhecimento da COVID-19 entre os militares, principalmente em termos de medidas preventivas.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Determinar la efectividad del Programa educativo basado en autorregulación del aprendizaje en el nivel de conocimiento sobre COVID-19 en militares. Métodos: Estudio preexperimental de diseño pretest y postest con un solo grupo, realizado en 2020. Participaron 179 militares de Puno, Perú. Se desarrollaron dos sesiones expositivo-participativas y un taller demostrativo. Se empleó un cuestionario válido (V de Aiken = 0,69) y confiable (Omega de McDonald = 0,81). Se utilizó el test de Friedman para comparar los resultados en pre y postest. Resultados: El nivel de conocimientos sobre COVID-19 y en dos de sus dimensiones cambió de deficiente (pretest) a regular (postest). Sin embargo, en la dimensión medidas preventivas, cambió de deficiente (pretest) a excelente (postest). Conclusión: La intervención educativa propuesta fue efectiva al incrementar los conocimientos sobre COVID-19 en militares, principalmente en cuanto a medidas preventivas.

Factors predictive of the success of tuberculosis treatment: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To produce pooled estimates of the global results of tuberculosis (TB) treatment and analyze the predictive factors of successful TB treatment. METHODS: Studies published between 2014 and 2019 that reported the results of the treatment of pulmonary TB and the factors that influenced these results. The quality of the studies was evaluated according to the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. A random effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) in February 2019 under number CRD42019121512. RESULTS: A total of 151 studies met the criteria for inclusion in this review. The success rate for the treatment of drug-sensitive TB in adults was 80.1% (95% CI: 78.4-81.7). America had the lowest treatment success rate, 75.9% (95% CI: 73.8-77.9), and Oceania had the highest, 83.9% (95% CI: 75.2-91.0). In children, the success rate was 84.8% (95% CI: 77.7-90.7); in patients coinfected with HIV, it was 71.0% (95% CI: 63.7-77.8), in patients with multidrug-resistant TB, it was 58.4% (95% CI: 51.4-64.6), in patients with and extensively drug-resistant TB it was 27.1% (12.7-44.5). Patients with negative sputum smears two months after treatment were almost three times more likely to be successfully treated (OR 2.7; 1.5-4.8), whereas patients younger than 65 years (OR 2.0; 1.7-2.4), nondrinkers (OR 2.0; 1.6-2.4) and HIV-negative patients (OR 1.9; 1.6-2.5 3) were two times more likely to be successfully treated. CONCLUSION: The success of TB treatment at the global level was good, but was still below the defined threshold of 85%. Factors such as age, sex, alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of sputum conversion at two months of treatment and HIV affected the success of TB treatment.