The influence of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) on chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) modulate the inflammatory process, and may facilitate the formation of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). This study aimed to observe if IAPs were differently expressed between patients with CRSwNP and controls, and to correlate the expression of IAPs with some inflammatory markers, as with the response to nasal corticosteroids in patients with CRSwNP. METHODOLOGY: We obtained nasal biopsies from patients with CRSwNP (n=27) and controls (n=16). qRT-PCR measured the expression of IAPs and caspases, while Luminex assay measured the concentration of cytokines. Unpaired parametric tests and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: We observed lower expression of IAP genes (XIAP, BIRC2/IAP1, and BIRC3/IAP2) in CRSwNP patients compared to controls, and we identified that patients with bad response to corticosteroids presented lower levels of BIRC2/IAP1, XIAP, BCL2, CASP9, and IL-17, and higher levels of CASP7 and TGF-B. CONCLUSIONS: IAPs expression was downregulated in CRSwNP, and was associated with poorer response to nasal corticosteroids. The present findings suggest the importance of IAPs as a link between environment and the host inflammatory responses, and this pathway could be explored as a potential new target therapy for patients with CRSwNP.

Smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 is not clinically different from other viruses: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of cases with olfactory loss, other respiratory viruses can also cause this condition. We aimed to compare the prevalence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and other respiratory viruses in patients with sudden smell loss, and to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infection on olfactory symptoms. METHODS: Patients with sudden smell loss were recruited in a multicenter prospective cohort study in 15 hospitals in Brazil. Clinical questionnaire, Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory test and nasopharyngeal swab to perform a PCR-based respiratory viral panel were collected at first visit (day 0) and 30 and 60 days after recruitment. RESULTS: 188 of 213 patients presented positive test result for SARS-CoV-2, among which 65 were co-infected with other respiratory viruses (e.g., rhinovirus, enterovirus, and parainfluenza). 25 had negative test results for SARS-CoV-2. Patients in both SARSCoV-2 and non-SARS-CoV-2 groups had objective anosmia (less than 2 points according to the psychophysical olfactory CCCRC) at day 0, with no significant difference between them. Both groups had significant smell scores improvement after 30 and 60 days, with no difference between them. Co-infection with other respiratory viruses, and SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not impact olfactory scores. CONCLUSION: Patients with sudden smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses had similar presentation, with most participants initiating with anosmia, and total or near total recovery after 60 days. SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infections with other respiratory viruses were not associated with poorer olfactory outcomes.

Shell occupation by the endemic western Atlantic hermit crab Isocheles sawayai (Diogenidae) from Caraguatatuba, Brazil / Ocupação de conchas pelo ermitão endêmico do Atlântico ocidental Isocheles sawayai (Diogenidae) em Caraguatatuba, Brasil

The aim of this study was to characterize the pattern of shell occupation by the hermit crab Isocheles sawayai Forest and Saint-Laurent, 1968, from the Caraguatatuba region. The percentage of shell types that were occupied and the morphometric relationships between hermit crabs and occupied shells were analyzed from systematized collections that were conducted monthly from July 2001 to June 2003. A total of 373 individuals were captured (297 males, 41 non-ovigerous females, 25 ovigerous females and 10 intersexes), occupying 17 species of gastropod shells. Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1767) (49.87 percent) was the significantly most occupied species (χ2 = 89.30; P < 0.05) followed, with no significant difference, by Phalium granulatum (Born, 1778) (11.53 percent), Polinices hepaticus (Roding, 1798) (8.31 percent) and Cymatium parthenopeum (von Salis, 1793) (6.97 percent). All the morphometric relationships between hermit crabs and occupied shells showed high (r > 0.68) and significant (P < 0.05) correlation values, which is an important indication that in this I. sawayai population the animals occupied adequate shells. The high number of occupied shell species and relative plasticity indicated that, for the studied population, occupation is influenced by the shell availability.

O presente estudo caracterizou o padrão de ocupação de conchas de Isocheles sawayai Forest and Saint-Laurent, 1968, na região de Caraguatatuba. A porcentagem dos diferentes tipos de conchas ocupadas e as relações morfométricas entre os ermitões e as conchas ocupadas foram analisadas a partir de material de amostragem sistematizada, mensalmente, de julho/2001 a junho/2003. Foram capturados 373 indivíduos (297 machos, 41 fêmeas não-ovígeras, 25 fêmeas ovígeras e 10 indivíduos intersexo), ocupando 17 espécies de conchas de moluscos gastrópodes. Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1767) (49,87 por cento) foi a espécie significativamente mais ocupada (χ2 = 89,30; p < 0,05) seguida, porém sem diferença significativa, por Phalium granulatum (Born, 1778) (11,53 por cento), Polinices hepaticus (Roding, 1798) (8,31 por cento) e Cymatium parthenopeum (von Salis, 1793) (6,97 por cento). Todas as relações morfométricas entre os ermitões e as conchas ocupadas apresentaram valores de coeficientes de correlação elevados (r > 0,68) e significativos (p < 0,05), o que é um importante indício de que, nessa população de I. sawayai, os animais ocupavam conchas adequadas. O elevado número de espécies de conchas ocupadas e a relativa plasticidade indicaram que, para a população estudada, a ocupação é influenciada pela disponibilidade de conchas.

Shell occupation by the endemic western Atlantic hermit crab Isocheles sawayai (Diogenidae) from Caraguatatuba, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to characterize the pattern of shell occupation by the hermit crab Isocheles sawayai Forest and Saint-Laurent, 1968, from the Caraguatatuba region. The percentage of shell types that were occupied and the morphometric relationships between hermit crabs and occupied shells were analyzed from systematized collections that were conducted monthly from July 2001 to June 2003. A total of 373 individuals were captured (297 males, 41 non-ovigerous females, 25 ovigerous females and 10 intersexes), occupying 17 species of gastropod shells. Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1767) (49.87%) was the significantly most occupied species (chi2 = 89.30; P < 0.05) followed, with no significant difference, by Phalium granulatum (Born, 1778) (11.53%), Polinices hepaticus (Roding, 1798) (8.31%) and Cymatium parthenopeum (von Salis, 1793) (6.97%). All the morphometric relationships between hermit crabs and occupied shells showed high (r > 0.68) and significant (P < 0.05) correlation values, which is an important indication that in this I. sawayai population the animals occupied adequate shells. The high number of occupied shell species and relative plasticity indicated that, for the studied population, occupation is influenced by the shell availability.