Post-therapeutic cure criterion in chronic Chagas disease using Trypanosoma cruzi chimeric proteins.

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909. Causative treatment can be achieved with two drugs: benznidazole or Nifurtimox. There are some gaps that hinder progress in eradicating the disease. There is no test that can efficiently assess cure control after treatment. Currently, the decline in anti-T. cruzi antibody titres is assessed with conventional serological tests, which can take years. However, the search for new markers of cure must continue to fill this gap. The present study aimed to evaluate the decline in serological titres using chimeric proteins after treatment with benznidazole in chronic patients diagnosed with CD. It was a prospective cross-sectional cohort study between 2000 and 2004 of T. cruzi-positive participants from the Añatuya region (Argentina) treated with benznidazole. Serum samples from ten patients were collected before treatment (day zero) and after the end of treatment (2, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months). For the detection of anti-T. cruzi antibodies, an indirect ELISA was performed using two chimeric recombinant proteins (IBMP-8.1 and IBMP-8.4) as antigens. The changes in reactivity index within the groups before and after treatment were evaluated using the Friedman test. All participants experienced a decrease in serological titres after treatment with benznidazole, especially IBMP-8.1. However, due to the small number of samples and the short follow-up period, it is premature to conclude that this molecule serves as a criterion for sustained cure. Further studies are needed to validate tests based on these or other biomarkers to demonstrate parasitological cure.

Unlocking the potential of olive residues for functional purposes: update on human intervention trials with health and cosmetic products.

Olive mill waste (OMW) is a promising source of valuable compounds such as polyphenols, terpenes, sterols, and other bioactive compounds, which are of interest to the pharmaceuticals and cosmeceutical industries. This review examines the potential of OMW extracts for health and beauty applications based on evidence reports from human clinical trials. The results achieved to date indicate health-enhancing properties, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms of action, dose-response relationships, and long-term impacts. Therefore, while olive by-products, extracted using eco-friendly methods, present opportunities for the development of high-value health and cosmetic products, further studies are necessary to determine the full range of their effects and establish specific therapeutic strategies. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Cardiovascular Health Trajectories in Adolescence and Their Association With Sociodemographic and Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Spain.

PURPOSE: To determine cardiovascular health (CVH) trajectories and their association with sociodemographic and cardiometabolic outcomes in adolescence. METHODS: One thousand eighty adolescents attending 24 secondary schools enrolled in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools trial in Spain were assessed at approximately 12, 14, and 16 years of age. CVH was assessed according to American Heart Association criteria based on seven metrics (smoking status, body mass index, physical activity, diet, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood glucose), and CVH trajectories were identified by latent class trajectory modeling. Associations between CVH trajectories, sociodemographic characteristics, and cardiometabolic outcomes were analyzed using generalized linear and Poisson models. RESULTS: Five CVH trajectory groups were identified: poor-stable (27 adolescents [2.5%]), intermediate-substantial rise (79 [7.3%]), intermediate-substantial decline (63 [5.8%]), intermediate-mild decline (403 [37.3%]), and intermediate-mild rise (508 [47.1%]). Boys and adolescents from families with low-average income, low-intermediate educational attainment, and a migrant background more frequently belonged to groups with lower baseline CVH and poor or declining trajectories. The intermediate-substantial decline group had the highest prevalence ratio for overweight/obesity (3.84; 95% confidence interval: 2.86-5.16) and metabolic syndrome (4.93; 95% confidence interval: 1.21-20.04) at age 16, whereas prevalence was lowest in the intermediate-mild rise group. DISCUSSION: Adolescent CVH trajectories differ according to socioeconomic characteristics and are associated with cardiometabolic outcomes. Primordial prevention interventions should be implemented early in life, taking into account CVH trajectories and with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.

IgG Isotypes Targeting a Recombinant Chimeric Protein of Trypanosoma cruzi in Different Clinical Presentations of Chronic Chagas Disease.

Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which leads to a spectrum of clinical presentations that range from asymptomatic to severe cardiac involvement. The host immune response plays a pivotal role in disease progression. Ig isotypes may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Investigating these components can provide insights into the immunopathogenic mechanisms underlying CD. This cross-sectional study aims to establish a correlation between the Ig profile of individuals infected with T. cruzi with the clinical forms of chronic CD. Serum samples were collected from partner institutions in different states of Brazil. Individuals diagnosed with chronic CD were categorized based on the clinical form of the disease. The indirect ELISA method using the recombinant chimeric Molecular Biology Institute of Paraná membrane protein 8.4 as the antigen was used to determine the Ig profile, including total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4. Ninety-seven serum samples from patients classified as negative (NEG, n = 38), indeterminate (IND, n = 24), mild cardiac (MC, n = 20), and severe cardiac (SC, n = 15) forms were analyzed. IgG1 exhibited greater levels compared with the other isotypes, showing a significant difference between the MC and IND groups. IgG3 levels were greater in individuals from the MC group compared with the SC group. IgG1 and IgG3 isotypes can serve as biomarkers to evaluate the progression of CD because they exhibit variations across clinical groups. Additional longitudinal studies are necessary to explore the relationship between antibody kinetics and the development of tissue damage.

Association between tomato consumption and blood pressure in an older population at high cardiovascular risk: observational analysis of PREDIMED trial.

AIMS: Clinical studies have produced conflicting evidence on the effects of the consumption of tomatoes on blood pressure, and there are limited data from epidemiologic studies. This study assesses whether tomato consumption (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is associated with Systolic (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and the risk of hypertension in a prospective 3-year longitudinal study in older adults at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS: The present study was carried out within the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) trial involving 7,056 (82.5% hypertensive) participants. The consumption of tomato (g/d) was measured using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and categorized into 4 groups: lowest (<44 g), intermediate (44-82 g), upper-intermediate (82 -110 g), and highest (>110 g). Multilevel linear mixed models examined blood pressure and tomato consumption association. Cox proportional-hazards models analyzed hypertension risk in 1,097 non-hypertensive participants, studying risk reductions versus the lowest tomato consumers. RESULTS: An inverse association between tomato consumption and diastolic blood pressure was observed between the intermediate group ß = -0.65 mmHg [95% CI:-1.20, -0.10] and the lowest consumption group. A significant inverse association was observed for blood pressure in grade 1 hypertension participants in the intermediate tomato consumption group. The risk of hypertension decreased with consumption of >110 g/d tomato (highest vs lowest consumption; HR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.51-0.89]). CONCLUSIONS: Tomato consumption, including tomato-based products, is beneficial in preventing and managing hypertension. Higher tomato intake reduces hypertension risk by 36%, and moderate consumption lowers blood pressure, especially in grade 1 hypertension.

Tomato consumption may play a favourable clinical role in the prevention and management of elevated blood pressure. Tomato consumption was associated with both blood pressure measurements in mildly elevated blood pressure participants. A higher consumption of tomato was associated with a reduction in the risk of high blood pressure, equivalent to a large-sized fruit.

Assessment of Cross-Reactivity of Chimeric Trypanosoma cruzi Antigens with Crithidia sp. LVH-60A: Implications for Accurate Diagnostics.

This study focuses on developing accurate immunoassays for diagnosing Chagas disease (CD), a challenging task due to antigenic similarities between Trypanosoma cruzi and other parasites, leading to cross-reactivity. To address this challenge, chimeric recombinant T. cruzi antigens (IBMP-8.1, IBMP-8.2, IBMP-8.3, and IBMP-8.4) were synthesized to enhance specificity and reduce cross-reactivity in tests. While these antigens showed minimal cross-reactivity with leishmaniasis, their performance with other trypanosomatid infections was unclear. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic potential of these IBMP antigens for detecting CD in patients with Crithidia sp. LVH-60A, a parasite linked to visceral leishmaniasis-like symptoms in Brazil. This study involved seven Crithidia sp. LVH-60A patients and three Leishmania infantum patients. The results indicated that these IBMP antigens displayed 100% sensitivity, with specificity ranging from 87.5% to 100%, and accuracy values between 90% and 100%. No cross-reactivity was observed with Crithidia sp. LVH-60A, and only one L. infantum-positive sample showed limited cross-reactivity with IBMP-8.1. This study suggests that IBMP antigens offer promising diagnostic performance, with minimal cross-reactivity in regions where T. cruzi and other trypanosomatids are prevalent. However, further research with a larger number of Crithidia sp. LVH-60A-positive samples is needed to comprehensively evaluate antigen cross-reactivity.

Metabolic syndrome, adiposity, diet, and emotional eating are associated with oxidative stress in adolescents.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS), a condition related to adiposity and oxidative stress, can develop in adolescence, a critical stage in life that impacts health in adulthood. However, there is scarce scientific research about the relationship between lifestyle factors, emotion management, and oxidative stress in this phase of life. Aim: To analyze whether nutritional parameters, lifestyle factors, emotion management, and MS in adolescents are associated with oxidative stress measured by the biomarker 8-isoprostane. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 132 adolescents (48.5% girls, aged 12 ± 0.48 years) and data were collected on nutritional parameters (anthropometric measurements, biochemical analyzes, and blood pressure), lifestyle factors (physical activity, sleep, and diet), and emotion management (self-esteem, emotional eating, and mood). 8-isoprostane was analyzed in spot urine samples. The study population was categorized in three groups (healthy, at-risk, and with MS) using the International Diabetes Federation definition of MS in adolescents. To capture more complex interactions, a multiple linear regression was used to analyze the association between 8-isoprostane and the aforementioned variables. Results: Urinary 8-isoprostane levels were significantly higher in the MS group compared to the healthy group (1,280 ± 543 pg./mg vs. 950 ± 416 pg./mg respectively). In addition, univariable analysis revealed positive significant associations between 8-isoprostane and body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, body fat percentage, blood lipid profile and glucose, emotional eating, and refined cereal intake. Conversely, a negative significant association was found between 8-isoprostane and sleep duration and fish intake. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed associations between 8-isoprostane and LDL-c (ß = 0.173 value of p = 0.049), emotional eating (low ß = 0.443, value of p = 0.036; high ß = 0.152, value of p = 0.470), refined cereal intake (ß =0.191, value of p = 0.024), and fish intake (ß = -0.187, value of p = 0.050). Conclusion: The MS group, LDL-c, emotional eating, and high refined cereals and low fish intakes were associated with higher levels of oxidative stress in an adolescent population.

Interactive effect of branch source-sink ratio and leaf aging on photosynthesis in pistachio.

Tree source-sink ratio has a predominant and complex impact on tree performance and can affect multiple physiological processes including vegetative and reproductive growth, water and nutrient use, photosynthesis, and productivity. In this study, we manipulated the branch level source-sink ratio by reduction of photosynthetic activity (partial branch defoliation) or thinning branch fruit load early in the growing season (after fruit set) in pistachio (Pistacia vera) trees. We then characterized the leaf photosynthetic light response curves through leaf aging. In addition, we determined changes in leaf non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and nitrogen (N) concentrations. In leaves with high source-sink ratios, there was a gradual decrease in maximum net photosynthetic rate (ANmax) over the growing season, while in branches with low source-sink ratios, there was a sharp decline in ANmax in the first two weeks of August. Branches with high-sink showed an up-regulation (increase) in photosynthesis toward the end of July (at 1,500 growing degree days) during the period of rapid kernel growth rate and increased sink strength, with ANmax being about 7 µmol m-1 s-1 higher than in branches with low-sink. In August, low source-sink ratios precipitated leaf senescence, resulting in a drastic ANmax decline, from 25 to 8 µmol m-1 s-1 (70% drop in two weeks). This reduction was associated with the accumulation of NSC in the leaves from 20 to 30 mg g-1. The mechanisms of ANmax reduction differ between the two treatments. Lower photosynthetic rates of 8-10 µmol m-1 s-1 late in the season were associated with lower N levels in high-sink branches, suggesting N remobilization to the kernels. Lower photosynthesis late in the season was associated with lower respiration rates in low-source branches, indicating prioritization of assimilates to storage. These results can facilitate the adaptation of management practices to tree crop load changes in alternate bearing species.

School-Based Cardiovascular Health Promotion in Adolescents: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: School-based interventions offer an opportunity for health promotion in adolescence. Objective: To assess the effect of 2 multicomponent educational health promotion strategies of differing duration and intensity on adolescents' cardiovascular health (CVH). Design, Setting, and Participants: The SI! Program for Secondary Schools is a 4-year cluster randomized clinical intervention trial conducted in 24 secondary schools from Barcelona and Madrid, Spain, from September 7, 2017, to July 31, 2021. Eligible participants were adolescents enrolled in the first grade of secondary school. Interventions: Schools and their participants were randomized to receive a health promotion intervention (SI! Program) over 4 school years (long-term intervention [LTI], 8 schools, 412 adolescents) or 2 school years (short-term intervention [STI], 8 schools, 504 adolescents) or to receive the standard curriculum (control, 8 schools, 441 adolescents). Main outcome and Measures: The primary end point was the between-group difference at 2 and 4 years in the change from baseline of the overall CVH score, as defined by the American Heart Association (range, 0-14 points, with a higher score indicating a healthier CVH profile). Intervention effects were tested with multilevel mixed-effects models. A complete-case intention-to-treat analysis was performed as the primary analysis. Results: Of the randomized students, the study enrolled 1326 adolescents (684 [51.6%] boys, mean [SD] age, 12.5 [0.4] years at recruitment) with a study completion rate of 86.0%. Baseline overall CVH scores were 10.3 points in the LTI group, 10.6 points in the STI group, and 10.5 points in the control group. After 2 years, at halfway through the LTI and at the end of the STI, the difference in the CVH score change was 0.44 points (95% CI, 0.01-0.87; P = .04) between the LTI group and the control group and 0.18 points (95% CI, -0.25 to 0.61; P = .39) between the STI group and the control group. At 4 years, differences for the LTI and STI groups vs control were 0.12 points (LTI: 95% CI, -0.19 to 0.43; P = .42) and 0.13 points (STI: 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.44; P = .38). No adverse events were reported. Conclusions and Relevance: Overall, the tested school-based health promotion strategies in this randomized clinical trial had a neutral effect on the CVH of the adolescents. Although there was evidence of a marginal beneficial effect at a point halfway through implementation in the LTI group, such a benefit was not noted at 4 years. Further research is warranted into the efficacy of school-based health promotion programs. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03504059.

Clustering of lifestyle behaviors and adiposity in early adolescents in Spain: findings from the SI! Program for Secondary Schools.

BACKGROUND: Several unhealthy lifestyle behaviors in adolescence are often linked to overweight/obesity. Some of them may be present simultaneously, leading to combined effects on health. Therefore, the clustering of several unhealthy behaviors in adolescents might be associated with adiposity excess. PURPOSE: To identify lifestyle patterns and analyze their association with adiposity in early adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional cluster analysis was performed in 1183 adolescents (50.5% girls) with a mean age of 12.5 (0.4) years included in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools in Spain to identify lifestyle patterns based on healthy diet, step counts, sleep time, and leisure screen time. Generalized mixed models were applied to estimate the association between lifestyle patterns and adiposity indices. RESULTS: Four lifestyle patterns were derived: Cluster 1-higher screen time and poorer diet (n = 213), Cluster 2-lower activity and longer sleepers (n = 388), Cluster 3-active and shorter sleepers (n = 280), and Cluster 4-healthiest (n = 302). Except for the number of steps (12,008 (2357) day), the lifestyle behaviors in our sample presented levels far below the recommendations, especially for sleep duration. Cluster 4 included the largest proportion of adolescents from high socioeconomic status families (47.7%) and the lowest prevalence of overweight/obesity (23.1%). Compared to Cluster 4-healthiest, adolescents in the remaining clusters presented a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity, showing Cluster 3 the highest prevalences (PR:1.31 [95%CI: 1.31, 1.31] and PR:1.40 [95%CI: 1.33, 1.47]). CONCLUSIONS: Clustering of lifestyle patterns in early adolescence allows the identification of individuals with excess adiposity, in whom health promotion strategies should be stressed, especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial Registry, NCT03504059. Registered 20/04/2018-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03504059 .

Sleep duration and its association with adiposity markers in adolescence: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

AIMS: Large studies linking adolescents' objectively measured sleep duration and adiposity markers are lacking. We characterized sleep duration and its cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with adiposity markers in adolescence. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seven-day accelerometry was performed in a cohort of adolescents enrolled in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools trial in Spain at approximately ages 12 (1216 adolescents, 49.6% girls), 14 (1026 adolescents, 51.3% girls), and 16 (872 adolescents, 51.7% girls) years. Participants were classified as very short sleepers (VSS; <7 h), short sleepers (SS; 7-<8 h), or recommended-time sleepers (RTS; 8-10 h). Adjusted associations between sleep duration and adiposity markers were analysed using generalized linear and Poisson models. At ∼12 years, 33.7% of adolescents met sleep recommendations, and this percentage decreased with advancing age (22.6% at ∼14 and 18.7% at ∼16 years). Compared with RTS, overweight/obesity prevalence ratios at ∼12, 14, and 16 years among SS were 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-1.30], 1.41 (95% CI: 1.34-1.48), and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.77-1.26) and among VSS were 1.30 (95% CI: 1.28-1.32), 1.93 (95% CI: 1.41-2.64), and 1.32 (95% CI: 1.26-1.37). Compared with adolescents who always met sleep recommendations, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was ∼5 times higher in those never meeting recommendations or meeting them only once. Similar trends were observed for the waist-to-height ratio (P = 0.010) and fat mass index (P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Most adolescents did not meet sleep recommendations. Shorter sleep duration was independently associated with unfavourable adiposity markers, and such adverse impact was cumulative. Health promotion programmes should emphasize the importance of good sleep habits.

This study used a wearable activity tracker to analyse sleep patterns and their association with adiposity markers in a large cohort of adolescents at ages 12, 14, and 16 years.At 12 years, only 34% of adolescents met sleep recommendations (eight or more hours of sleep per day), and this percentage decreased with advancing age (23% at 14 and 19% at 16 years). Adolescents sleeping <8 h a day were more likely to present overweight, obesity, or other adverse adiposity markers than their peers with sufficient sleep.The link between insufficient sleep and adverse adiposity markers was independent of energy intake and physical activity levels, indicating that sleep itself is important. Therefore, health promotion programmes for adolescents should emphasize the importance of good sleep habits.

Association Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Sleep, Bruxism and Dental Trauma in Pediatric Population: A Preliminary Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms reported by parents and the variables sleep problems, possible sleep bruxism, possible awake bruxism and dental trauma (DT), and its mode of occurrence in children and adolescents.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the parents of 144 four- to 16-year-old subjects through a questionnaire on demographics, subjects' sleep, self-reported bruxism and DT mode of occurrence. The Swanson, Nolan and Pelham scale IV was used to assess ADHD signs and subtypes. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were performed (P <0.05).
Results: The subjects' mean age was 7.9 years (±2.8 years) and 50.7 percent were boys. DT was reported in 80 percent of those with the hyperactive/impulsive subtype (ADHD-HI) and 72.7 percent of those with the combined subtype (ADHD-C). DT was caused solely by falls in the ADHD-C and inattention subtypes (ADHD-I). ADHD-C was associated with somniloquy (prevalence ratio [PR]=1.075; P =0.010). ADHD-HI was associated with bad sleep quality (PR=1.194; P =0.005), possible sleep bruxism (PR=1.088, 95% confidence interval=1.006 to 1.176; P =0.034), possible awake bruxism (PR=1.146; P =0.024) and sleep duration (PR=0.88; P =0.02).
Conclusion: ADHD-C and -HI subtypes were associated with sleep characteristics. Possible sleep and awake bruxism were associated with symptoms of ADHD-HI. Despite no significant association, DT was present in most ADHD subjects, mostly due to falls.

Impacto da pandemia provocada pelo SARS-CoV-2 na saúde mental de estudantes de Odontologia: uma revisão integrativa / Impacto de la pandemia causada por SARS-CoV-2 en la salud mental de los estudiantes de la odontología: una revisión integrativa / Impact of the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 on the mental health of dental students: an integrative review

A saúde mental dos estudantes de Odontologia foi impactada pela pandemia provocada pelo coronavírus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). O objetivo do estudo foi realizar uma revisão integrativa sobre o impacto da pandemia na saúde mental de estudantes de Odontologia. Foram consultadas as bases de dados PubMed Medline e SciELO, nas quais foram selecionados artigos nos idiomas em português, inglês e espanhol. A estratégia de busca foi composta pela combinação das palavras-chave COVID-19, pandemia, estudantes de Odontologia, educação odontológica e saúde mental. As coletas foram realizadas no mês de agosto de 2021 tendo como critérios de inclusão os artigos de qualquer delineamento que descrevessem o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 e fatores associados coma saúde mental de estudantes de Odontologia. O critério de exclusão foi de artigos que não tinham como participantes do estudo os estudantes de Odontologia. Os dados foram analisados e apresentados em formato de quadro com as variáveis de interesse como: autor, ano, país, título do artigo, objetivo, delineamento, resultados principais e conclusões. Os estudos demonstram impactos negativos da COVID-19 na saúde mental dos estudantes de Odontologia. A percepção de saúde mental geral foi o principal fator associado aos diagnósticos de depressão, ansiedade e estresse. Ademais, a maioria dos estudantes afirmou que as plataformas de aprendizagem onlineeram insuficientes para o aprendizado das competências clínicas. Conclui-se que a pandemia de COVID-19 impactou negativamente a saúde mental de estudantes de Odontologia, evidenciando a necessidade de políticas públicas e estratégias de apoio psicológico envolvendo serviços de aconselhamento institucional (AU).

La salud mental de los estudiantes fue impactada por la pandemia provocada por el coronavirus SARS-Cov-2(COVID-19). El objetivo del estudio fue realizar una revisión integrativa sobre el impacto de la pandemia en la salud mental de los estudiantes. Fueron consultadas las bases de datos PubMed Medline y SciELO, de los cuales se seleccionaron artículos en los idiomas portugués, inglés y español. La estrategia de búsqueda fue compuesta por la combinación de las palabras-clave COVID-19, pandemia, estudiantes deodontología, educación dental y salud mental. Las adquisiciones de los datos fueran realizadas en el mes de agosto de 2021 teniendo como criterios de inclusión, publicaciones de cualquier delineamento que describiesen el impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19y factores asociados con la salud mental de estudiantes de odontologia. Se excluyeron los artículos que no tenían como participantes del estudio alos estudiantes de odontología. Los datos fueron analizados y presentados en formato de cuadro com las variables deinterés como: autor, año, título del artículo, objetivo, delineamento, resultados principales y conclusiones. Los estudios han demostrado impactos negativos de la COVID-19 en la salud mental de los estudiantes de odontología. La percepción de saludmental general fue el principal factor asociado a los diagnósticos de depresión, ansiedad y estrés. Además, la mayoría de los estudiantes manifestó que utilizar plataformas de aprendizaje virtuales fueroninsuficientes para desarrollar competencias clínicas. Cabe concluir que la necesidad de política pública y estrategias de apoyos psicológicos deberían incluir servicios de asesoramiento institucional (AU).

The mental health of dental students was impacted by the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The aim of the present study was to perform an integrative review addressing the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of dental students. The PubMed (Medline) and SciELO databases were searched for relevant articles published in Portuguese, English and Spanish. The search strategy was composed of combinations of the following keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, dental students, dental education and mental health. Data collection was conducted in August 2021. The inclusion criteria were articles with any study design that described the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and factors associated with the mental health of dental students. Studies without dental students as participants were excluded. The data were analyzed and presented in a table with the variables of interest: authors, year of publication, country, objective, study design, main results and conclusions. The articlesdemonstrated the negative impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of dental students. The perception of general mental health was the main factor associated with diagnoses of depression, anxiety and stress. The majority of students reported that online platforms were insufficient for learning clinical skills. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic exerted a negative impact on the mental health of dental students, underscoring the need for public policies and psychological support strategies involving institutional counseling services (AU).

Struma Ovarii com Síndrome Pseudo-Meigs e Aumento dos Níveis de CA-125: Relato de Caso / Struma Ovarii with Pseudo-Meigs Syndrome and Increased CA-125 Levels: Case Report / Struma Ovarii com Síndrome Pseudo-Meigs e Aumento dos Níveis de CA-125: Relato de Caso

Struma ovarii is a rare type of ovarian tumor composed of more than 50% of thyroid tissue. It represents only 1% of solid ovarian tumors and 3% of dermoid subtypes, with the majority of cases following a benign course. It typically affects women between the third and fifth decades of life and often remains asymptomatic or presents with nonspecific signs. pseudo-Meigs syndrome, characterized by ascites and pleural effusion, may be present, complicating the diagnosis. Case report: A 43-year-old woman presented with abdominal discomfort, pelvic pain, and chronic dyspnea. A CT scan identified a solid-cystic pelvic mass, moderate ascites, and right-sided pleural effusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the findings, raising suspicion of malignant ovarian tumor. The serum tumor marker CA-125 was elevated. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, resulting in bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Histopathological analysis of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis of struma ovarii in the left ovary and mature cystic teratoma in the right ovary. Conclusion: Elevated CA-125 levels can be found in cases of struma ovarii, posing a differential diagnosis challenge with malignant ovarian neoplasms, especially when associated with pseudo-Meigs syndrome. Therefore, although rare, it should be considered as a possibility during clinical investigation of ovarian masses with atypical presentations. Imaging studies can assist, but confirmation is established through microscopic analysis. Treatment involves simple surgical resection, and symptom disappearance follows, with favorable prognosis

Struma ovarii é um tipo raro de tumor ovariano composto por mais de 50% de tecido tireoidiano. Representa apenas 1% dos tumores sólidos do ovário e 3% dos subtipos dermoides, com a maioria dos casos de curso benigno. Geralmente afeta mulheres entre a terceira e a quinta décadas de vida, sendo muitas vezes assintomático ou com sinais inespecíficos. A síndrome de pseudo-Meigs, caracterizada por ascite e derrame pleural, pode estar presente, dificultando o diagnóstico. Relato do caso: Mulher, 43 anos, com desconforto abdominal, dor pélvica e dispneia crônica. A tomografia identificou massa sólido-cística na pelve e ascite moderada, além de derrame pleural à direita. A ressonância magnética confirmou as alterações e, desse modo, suspeitou-se de tumor maligno ovariano. O marcador sérico tumoral CA-125 estava elevado. A paciente foi submetida a uma laparotomia exploradora que resultou em salpingo-oforectomia bilateral. A análise histopatológica do espécime confirmou o diagnóstico de struma ovarii em ovário esquerdo e teratoma cístico maduro à direita. Conclusão: Os níveis elevados de CA-125 podem ser encontrados em casos de struma ovarii, tornando-o diagnóstico diferencial nas neoplasias ovarianas malignas, especialmente quando associado à síndrome de pseudo-Meigs. Nesse sentido, embora raro, o tumor deve ser considerado uma possibilidade durante investigação clínica de massas ovarianas com apresentações atípicas. Os exames de imagem podem auxiliar, mas a confirmação é estabelecida pela análise microscópica. O tratamento consiste na ressecção cirúrgica simples, e o desaparecimento dos sintomas acontece em seguida, sendo de bom prognóstico.

El struma ovarii es un tipo raro de tumor ovárico compuesto por más del 50% de tejido tiroideo. Representa solo el 1% de los tumores ováricos sólidos y el 3% de los subtipos dermoides, siendo en su mayoría benigno. Típicamente afecta a mujeres entre la tercera y quinta década de vida y a menudo permanece asintomático o presenta signos inespecíficos. El síndrome de pseudo-Meigs, caracterizado por ascitis y derrame pleural, puede estar presente, complicando el diagnóstico. Informe del caso: Una mujer de 43 años consultó por malestar abdominal, dolor pélvico y disnea crónica. La tomografía identificó una masa pélvica sólido-quística, ascitis moderada y derrame pleural en el lado derecho. La resonancia magnética confirmó los hallazgos, levantando sospechas de un tumor ovárico maligno. El marcador tumoral sérico CA-125 estaba elevado. La paciente fue sometida a una laparotomía exploratoria, resultando en salpingo-ooforectomía bilateral. El análisis histopatológico de la muestra confirmó el diagnóstico de struma ovarii en el ovario izquierdo y teratoma quístico maduro en el ovario derecho. Conclusión: Los niveles elevados de CA-125 pueden encontrarse en casos de struma ovarii, lo que lo convierte en diagnóstico diferencial con neoplasias ováricas malignas, especialmente cuando se asocia con el síndrome de pseudo-Meigs. Por lo tanto, aunque sea raro, se debe considerar como una posibilidad durante la investigación clínica de masas ováricas con presentaciones atípicas. Los estudios por imágenes pueden ayudar, pero la confirmación se establece mediante análisis microscópico. El tratamiento implica la resección quirúrgica simple y los síntomas desaparecen después, con un pronóstico favorable.

Pituitary Metastasis Clinical Presentation of Diabetes Insipidus Six Years after Invasive Breast Carcinoma Diagnosis: Case Report

Breast carcinomas are the major cause of death in women with cancer worldwide, mainly in metastatic cases. The pituitary gland stands for only 6-8% of the secondary sites of distant metastasis and it is usually asymptomatic. When symptomatic, these lesions can mimic primary pituitary diseases. Case report: A 43-year-old woman underwent a left mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection in April 2013 due to a luminal, invasive ductal carcinoma with nodal metastasis. Six years later, she started complaining of myalgia, bone pain, dizziness and decreased visual acuity, in addition to polydipsia and polyuria. Laboratory tests showed hyperprolactinemia and diabetes insipidus suggestive of panhypopituitarism. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a sellar tumor with extension to adjacent structures which was removed on November 2019. A pathology report of an epithelial neoplasm of unknown origin and an immunohistochemical study showed positivity for estrogen, progesterone receptors and GATA 3, and negativity for pituitary hormones. This set of findings and the histological morphology were consistent with a metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma of mammary origin without HER-2 overexpression. The patient underwent ovarian ablation, central nervous system radiotherapy, chemotherapy and oncological follow-up. Conclusion: The patient's young age and clinical presentation of visual impairment and sudden development of diabetes insipidus diverges from the current data, since these findings are usually present in asymptomatic women over sixty-years-old. The varied clinical presentation can lead to a delay in diagnosis of pituitary metastasis, which reinforces the importance of reporting cases like this

O carcinoma mamário é a maior causa de morte por câncer em mulheres no mundo, majoritariamente nos casos metastáticos. A hipófise configura apenas 6-8% dos sítios metastáticos a distância, e geralmente são assintomáticos. Quando sintomáticos, podem mimetizar uma doença primária dessa glândula. Relato do caso: Mulher, 43 anos, submetida à mastectomia com esvaziamento axilar à esquerda em abril de 2013 por carcinoma mamário ductal invasivo, luminal, com metástase linfonodal. Seis anos depois, iniciou com queixa de mialgia, dor óssea, tontura e piora progressiva de acuidade visual, além de polidipsia e poliúria. Exames laboratoriais evidenciaram hiperprolactinemia e diabetes insipidus sugerindo pan-hipopituitarismo. A ressonância magnética de encéfalo demonstrou tumor selar com extensão a estruturas adjacentes que foi ressecado em novembro de 2019, com laudo de neoplasia epitelial de origem indeterminada, sendo necessário estudo imuno-histoquímico para elucidação diagnóstica. Houve positividade para o receptor de estrógeno, progesterona e GATA 3 e negatividade para hormônios hipofisários. Esse conjunto de achados e a morfologia histológica foram condizentes com adenocarcinoma mucinoso metastático de origem mamária, sem hiperexpressão de HER-2. A paciente foi submetida à ablação ovariana, radioterapia em sistema nervoso central, quimioterapia e a acompanhamento oncológico. Conclusão: A idade, a apresentação clínica de comprometimento visual e o desenvolvimento de diabetes insipidus repentino destoam dos dados da literatura, uma vez que estes costumam estar associados a mulheres acima dos 60 anos e assintomáticas. Essa apresentação clínica diversificada pode levar a um atraso no diagnóstico da metástase hipofisária, o que reforça a importância de relatar casos como este.

Los carcinomas de mama son la principal causa de muerte en mujeres con cáncer en todo el mundo, principalmente en casos metastásicos. La glándula pituitaria representa solo el 6-8% de los sitios secundarios de metástasis a distancia y generalmente es asintomática. Cuando son sintomáticas, estas lesiones pueden imitar enfermedades pituitarias primarias. Informe de caso: Mujer, 43 años, se sometió a una mastectomía izquierda con disección de ganglios linfáticos axilares en abril de 2013 debido a un carcinoma de mama ductal invasivo luminal con metástasis ganglionar. Seis años después, comenzó a quejarse de mialgia, dolor óseo, mareos y disminución de la agudeza visual, además de polidipsia y poliuria. Los análisis de laboratorio revelaron hiperprolactinemia y diabetes insípida, lo que sugiere un cuadro de panhipopituitarismo. La resonancia magnética cerebral mostró un tumor de la silla turca con extensión a estructuras adyacentes, que se extirpó en noviembre de 2019. Un informe patológico indicó una neoplasia epitelial de origen desconocido, y ha sido necesario un estudio inmunohistoquímico para dilucidar, que se mostró positivo para los receptores de estrógeno, progesterona y GATA 3, y negativo para las hormonas pituitarias. Este conjunto de hallazgos y la morfología histológica fueron consistentes con un adenocarcinoma mucinoso metastásico de origen mamario sin superexpresión de HER-2. La paciente se sometió a ablación ovárica, radioterapia del sistema nervioso central, quimioterapia y seguimiento oncológico. Conclusión: La edad de la paciente y la presentación clínica de deterioro visual y desarrollo repentino de diabetes insípida difieren de los datos actuales, ya que estos hallazgos suelen estar presentes en mujeres asintomáticas mayores de 60 años. Una variada presentación clínica puede retrasar el diagnóstico de metástasis pituitaria, lo que refuerza la importancia de informar casos como este.

Struma Ovarii com Síndrome Pseudo-Meigs e Aumento dos Níveis de CA-125: Relato de Caso / Struma Ovarii with Pseudo-Meigs Syndrome and Increased CA-125 Levels: Case Report / Struma Ovarii con Síndrome de Pseudo-Meigs y Niveles Elevados de CA-125: Informe de Caso

Introdução: Struma ovarii é um tipo raro de tumor ovariano composto por mais de 50% de tecido tireoidiano. Representa apenas 1% dos tumores sólidos do ovário e 3% dos subtipos dermoides, com a maioria dos casos de curso benigno. Geralmente afeta mulheres entre a terceira e a quinta décadas de vida, sendo muitas vezes assintomático ou com sinais inespecíficos. A síndrome de pseudo-Meigs, caracterizada por ascite e derrame pleural, pode estar presente, dificultando o diagnóstico. Relato do caso: Mulher, 43 anos, com desconforto abdominal, dor pélvica e dispneia crônica. A tomografia identificou massa sólido-cística na pelve e ascite moderada, além de derrame pleural à direita. A ressonância magnética confirmou as alterações e, desse modo, suspeitou-se de tumor maligno ovariano. O marcador sérico tumoral CA-125 estava elevado. A paciente foi submetida a uma laparotomia exploradora que resultou em salpingo-oforectomia bilateral. A análise histopatológica do espécime confirmou o diagnóstico de struma ovarii em ovário esquerdo e teratoma cístico maduro à direita. Conclusão: Os níveis elevados de CA-125 podem ser encontrados em casos de struma ovarii, tornando-o diagnóstico diferencial nas neoplasias ovarianas malignas, especialmente quando associado à síndrome de pseudo-Meigs. Nesse sentido, embora raro, o tumor deve ser considerado uma possibilidade durante investigação clínica de massas ovarianas com apresentações atípicas. Os exames de imagem podem auxiliar, mas a confirmação é estabelecida pela análise microscópica. O tratamento consiste na ressecção cirúrgica simples, e o desaparecimento dos sintomas acontece em seguida, sendo de bom prognóstico

Introduction: Struma ovarii is a rare type of ovarian tumor composed of more than 50% of thyroid tissue. It represents only 1% of solid ovarian tumors and 3% of dermoid subtypes, with the majority of cases following a benign course. It typically affects women between the third and fifth decades of life and often remains asymptomatic or presents with nonspecific signs. pseudo-Meigs syndrome, characterized by ascites and pleural effusion, may be present, complicating the diagnosis. Case report: A 43-year-old woman presented with abdominal discomfort, pelvic pain, and chronic dyspnea. A CT scan identified a solid-cystic pelvic mass, moderate ascites, and right-sided pleural effusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the findings, raising suspicion of malignant ovarian tumor. The serum tumor marker CA-125 was elevated. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, resulting in bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Histopathological analysis of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis of struma ovarii in the left ovary and mature cystic teratoma in the right ovary. Conclusion: Elevated CA-125 levels can be found in cases of struma ovarii, posing a differential diagnosis challenge with malignant ovarian neoplasms, especially when associated with pseudo-Meigs syndrome. Therefore, although rare, it should be considered as a possibility during clinical investigation of ovarian masses with atypical presentations. Imaging studies can assist, but confirmation is established through microscopic analysis. Treatment involves simple surgical resection, and symptom disappearance follows, with favorable prognosis.

Introducción: El struma ovarii es un tipo raro de tumor ovárico compuesto por más del 50% de tejido tiroideo. Representa solo el 1% de los tumores ováricos sólidos y el 3% de los subtipos dermoides, siendo en su mayoría benigno. Típicamente afecta a mujeres entre la tercera y quinta década de vida y a menudo permanece asintomático o presenta signos inespecíficos. El síndrome de pseudo-Meigs, caracterizado por ascitis y derrame pleural, puede estar presente, complicando el diagnóstico. Informe del caso: Una mujer de 43 años consultó por malestar abdominal, dolor pélvico y disnea crónica. La tomografía identificó una masa pélvica sólido-quística, ascitis moderada y derrame pleural en el lado derecho. La resonancia magnética confirmó los hallazgos, levantando sospechas de un tumor ovárico maligno. El marcador tumoral sérico CA-125 estaba elevado. La paciente fue sometida a una laparotomía exploratoria, resultando en salpingo-ooforectomía bilateral. El análisis histopatológico de la muestra confirmó el diagnóstico de struma ovarii en el ovario izquierdo y teratoma quístico maduro en el ovario derecho. Conclusión: Los niveles elevados de CA-125 pueden encontrarse en casos de struma ovarii, lo que lo convierte en diagnóstico diferencial con neoplasias ováricas malignas, especialmente cuando se asocia con el síndrome de pseudo-Meigs. Por lo tanto, aunque sea raro, se debe considerar como una posibilidad durante la investigación clínica de masas ováricas con presentaciones atípicas. Los estudios por imágenes pueden ayudar, pero la confirmación se establece mediante análisis microscópico. El tratamiento implica la resección quirúrgica simple y los síntomas desaparecen después, con un pronóstico favorable.

Pituitary Metastasis Clinical Presentation of Diabetes Insipidus Six Years after Invasive Breast Carcinoma Diagnosis: Case Report / Apresentação Clínica de Metástase Hipofisária com Diabetes Insipidus Seis Anos após o Diagnóstico de Carcinoma Mamário Invasivo: Relato de Caso / Presentación Clínica de Metástasis Hipofisaria con Diabetes Insípida Seis Años después del Diagnóstico de Carcinoma Mamario Invasivo: Informe de Caso

Introduction: Breast carcinomas are the major cause of death in women with cancer worldwide, mainly in metastatic cases. The pituitary gland stands for only 6-8% of the secondary sites of distant metastasis and it is usually asymptomatic. When symptomatic, these lesions can mimic primary pituitary diseases. Case report: A 43-year-old woman underwent a left mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection in April 2013 due to a luminal, invasive ductal carcinoma with nodal metastasis. Six years later, she started complaining of myalgia, bone pain, dizziness and decreased visual acuity, in addition to polydipsia and polyuria. Laboratory tests showed hyperprolactinemia and diabetes insipidus suggestive of panhypopituitarism. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a sellar tumor with extension to adjacent structures which was removed on November 2019. A pathology report of an epithelial neoplasm of unknown origin and an immunohistochemical study showed positivity for estrogen, progesterone receptors and GATA 3, and negativity for pituitary hormones. This set of findings and the histological morphology were consistent with a metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma of mammary origin without HER-2 overexpression. The patient underwent ovarian ablation, central nervous system radiotherapy, chemotherapy and oncological follow-up. Conclusion: The patient's young age and clinical presentation of visual impairment and sudden development of diabetes insipidus diverges from the current data, since these findings are usually present in asymptomatic women over sixty-years-old. The varied clinical presentation can lead to a delay in diagnosis of pituitary metastasis, which reinforces the importance of reporting cases like this.

Introdução: O carcinoma mamário é a maior causa de morte por câncer em mulheres no mundo, majoritariamente nos casos metastáticos. A hipófise configura apenas 6-8% dos sítios metastáticos a distância, e geralmente são assintomáticos. Quando sintomáticos, podem mimetizar uma doença primária dessa glândula. Relato do caso: Mulher, 43 anos, submetida à mastectomia com esvaziamento axilar à esquerda em abril de 2013 por carcinoma mamário ductal invasivo, luminal, com metástase linfonodal. Seis anos depois, iniciou com queixa de mialgia, dor óssea, tontura e piora progressiva de acuidade visual, além de polidipsia e poliúria. Exames laboratoriais evidenciaram hiperprolactinemia e diabetes insipidus sugerindo pan-hipopituitarismo. A ressonância magnética de encéfalo demonstrou tumor selar com extensão a estruturas adjacentes que foi ressecado em novembro de 2019, com laudo de neoplasia epitelial de origem indeterminada, sendo necessário estudo imuno-histoquímico para elucidação diagnóstica. Houve positividade para o receptor de estrógeno, progesterona e GATA 3 e negatividade para hormônios hipofisários. Esse conjunto de achados e a morfologia histológica foram condizentes com adenocarcinoma mucinoso metastático de origem mamária, sem hiperexpressão de HER-2. A paciente foi submetida à ablação ovariana, radioterapia em sistema nervoso central, quimioterapia e a acompanhamento oncológico. Conclusão: A idade, a apresentação clínica de comprometimento visual e o desenvolvimento de diabetes insipidus repentino destoam dos dados da literatura, uma vez que estes costumam estar associados a mulheres acima dos 60 anos e assintomáticas. Essa apresentação clínica diversificada pode levar a um atraso no diagnóstico da metástase hipofisária, o que reforça a importância de relatar casos como este.

Introducción: Los carcinomas de mama son la principal causa de muerte en mujeres con cáncer en todo el mundo, principalmente en casos metastásicos. La glándula pituitaria representa solo el 6-8% de los sitios secundarios de metástasis a distancia y generalmente es asintomática. Cuando son sintomáticas, estas lesiones pueden imitar enfermedades pituitarias primarias. Informe de caso: Mujer, 43 años, se sometió a una mastectomía izquierda con disección de ganglios linfáticos axilares en abril de 2013 debido a un carcinoma de mama ductal invasivo luminal con metástasis ganglionar. Seis años después, comenzó a quejarse de mialgia, dolor óseo, mareos y disminución de la agudeza visual, además de polidipsia y poliuria. Los análisis de laboratorio revelaron hiperprolactinemia y diabetes insípida, lo que sugiere un cuadro de panhipopituitarismo. La resonancia magnética cerebral mostró un tumor de la silla turca con extensión a estructuras adyacentes, que se extirpó en noviembre de 2019. Un informe patológico indicó una neoplasia epitelial de origen desconocido, y ha sido necesario un estudio inmunohistoquímico para dilucidar, que se mostró positivo para los receptores de estrógeno, progesterona y GATA 3, y negativo para las hormonas pituitarias. Este conjunto de hallazgos y la morfología histológica fueron consistentes con un adenocarcinoma mucinoso metastásico de origen mamario sin superexpresión de HER-2. La paciente se sometió a ablación ovárica, radioterapia del sistema nervioso central, quimioterapia y seguimiento oncológico. Conclusión: La edad de la paciente y la presentación clínica de deterioro visual y desarrollo repentino de diabetes insípida difieren de los datos actuales, ya que estos hallazgos suelen estar presentes en mujeres asintomáticas mayores de 60 años. Una variada presentación clínica puede retrasar el diagnóstico de metástasis pituitaria, lo que refuerza la importancia de informar casos como este.

Inter-individual characteristics on basic taste recognition thresholds in a college-aged cohort: potential predictive factors.

Studying nutritional status from the perspective of taste sensitivity, rather than only dietary patterns, may provide new insights into the role of taste receptor signaling in the development of metabolic-associated diseases. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the possible influence of sociodemographic (sex and smoking habit) and clinical variables (dental cavities, missing teeth, sinusitis, rhinitis, body mass index and metabolic high prevalence family antecedent diseases) on tastant (sucrose, monosodium glutamate, sodium chloride, citric acid, quinine, sinigrin, phenylthiocarbamide) recognition thresholds (RTs) in a college-aged cohort (n = 397). Predictive models for the tastant RTs were generated and a higher sucrose RT was found in females than in males, while sinusitis and rhinitis explained sucrose and sodium chloride RTs. Smoking habit was not an important predictive factor of taste sensitivity, although its long-term influence on RTs remains unclear. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between all the tastant RTs studied. Although results did not show a clear pattern, the statistical approach employed should prove useful in future studies of predictors of taste sensitivity.

Western blot using Trypanosoma cruzi chimeric recombinant proteins for the serodiagnosis of chronic Chagas disease: A proof-of-concept study.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease (CD) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. The chronic phase of CD is characterized by the presence of IgG anti-T. cruzi antibodies; and diagnosis is performed by serological methods. Because there is no reliable test that can be used as a reference test, WHO recommends the parallel use of two different tests for CD serodiagnosis. If results are inconclusive, samples should be subjected to a confirmatory test, e.g., Western blot (WB) or PCR. PCR offers low sensitivity in the chronic phase, whereas few confirmatory tests based on the WB method are commercially available worldwide. Therefore, new diagnostic tools should be evaluated to fill the gap in CD confirmatory tests. In recent years, four chimeric recombinant antigens (IBMP-8.1, IBMP-8.2, IBMP-8.3 and IBMP-8.4) have been evaluated in phase I, II and III studies using ELISA, liquid microarray and immunochromatography with 95-100% accuracy. Given the high diagnostic performance of these antigens, the present study investigated the ability of these molecules to diagnose chronic CD using a WB testing platform. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, we analyzed the diagnostic potential of four chimeric antigens using 40 T. cruzi-positive, 24-negative, and three additional positive samples for visceral leishmaniasis (i.e., potentially cross-reactive) using WB as the diagnostic platform. Checkerboard titration with different dilutions of antigens, conjugated antigens, and serum samples was performed to standardize all assays. All IBMP antigens achieved 100% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, with the exception of IBMP-8.3, which had 100% specificity despite lack of significance, but lower sensitivity (95%) and accuracy (96.9%). No cross-reactivity was observed in samples positive for leishmaniasis. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The present phase I (proof-of-concept) study demonstrated the high diagnostic potential of these four IBMP antigens to discriminate between T. cruzi-positive and -negative samples, making them candidates for phase II and confirmatory testing with WB.

The Effects of Differentiated Organic Fertilization on Tomato Production and Phenolic Content in Traditional and High-Yielding Varieties.

The challenge of sustainable agriculture is to increase yields and obtain higher quality products. Increased antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols in harvest products may be an added value for sustainable agriculture. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether three organic fertilization treatments with different levels of carbon and nitrogen, i.e., N-rich, N-rich+C, and N-poor+C, affected the phenolic content of different tomato varieties. The examined parameters were productivity, plant nutritional status, δ13C, and tomato phenolic content as an indication of the antioxidant capacity. The best production was obtained with 'Cornabel', a high-yielding Pebroter variety. The total phenolic content was highest in the traditional 'Cuban Pepper' variety regardless of treatment, while naringenin levels were high in all the Pebroter varieties. In N-poor+C fertilized plants, a lower N-NO3 content in leaves was correlated with higher levels of total polyphenols in the fruit. The high-water stress suffered by Montserrat varieties coincided with a low total phenolic content in the tomatoes. In conclusion, organic fertilization with reduced N did not influence the tomato yield but positively affected phenolic compound levels in varieties less sensitive to water stress.