Urinary endogenous peptides as biomarkers for prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in men worldwide; however, the main diagnostic tests available for PCa have limitations and a biopsy is required for histopathological confirmation of the disease. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the main biomarker used for the early detection of PCa, but an elevated serum concentration is not cancer specific. Therefore, there is a need for the discovery of new non invasive biomarkers that can accurately diagnose PCa. The present study used trichloroacetic acid induced protein precipitation and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to profile endogenous peptides in urine samples from patients with PCa (n=33), benign prostatic hyperplasia (n=25) and healthy individuals (n=28). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of urinary peptides. In addition, Proteasix tool was used for in silico prediction of protease cleavage sites. Five urinary peptides derived from uromodulin were revealed to be significantly altered between the study groups, all of which were less abundant in the PCa group. This peptide panel showed a high potential to discriminate between the study groups, resulting in area under the curve (AUC) values between 0.788 and 0.951. In addition, urinary peptides outperformed PSA in discriminating between malignant and benign prostate conditions (AUC=0.847), showing high sensitivity (81.82%) and specificity (88%). From in silico analyses, the proteases HTRA2, KLK3, KLK4, KLK14 and MMP25 were identified as potentially involved in the degradation of uromodulin peptides in the urine of patients with PCa. In conclusion, the present study allowed the identification of urinary peptides with potential for use as non invasive biomarkers in PCa diagnosis

Developing Architectural Methods through Local Built Heritage: a Performing Arts Center in Torres, Brasil.

These documents have been reviewed by Safe Assignment.Southern Brazilian vernacular building methods contain knowledge that is unique to that particular area of the world. With the implementation of modern techniques and the usage of intuitive design processes, a designer can develop an improved method of construction, one that will attain to cultural aspects and be adaptable, sustainable and feasible. A performing arts center provides the ideal vehicle for this architectural exploration

Are Delta-Aminolevulinate Dehydratase Inhibition and Metal Concentrations Additional Factors for the Age-Related Cognitive Decline?

Aging is often accompanied by cognitive impairments and influenced by oxidative status and chemical imbalances. Thus, this study was conducted to examine whether age-related cognitive deficit is associated with oxidative damage, especially with inhibition of the enzyme delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D), as well as to verify the influence of some metals in the enzyme activity and cognitive performance. Blood ALA-D activity, essential (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) and non-essential metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, V) were measured in 50 elderly and 20 healthy young subjects. Cognitive function was assessed by tests from Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) battery and other. The elderly group presented decreased ALA-D activity compared to the young group. The index of ALA-D reactivation was similar to both study groups, but negatively associated with metals. The mean levels of essential metals were within the reference values, while the most toxic metals were above them in both groups. Cognitive function impairments were observed in elderly group and were associated with decreased ALA-D activity, with lower levels of Se and higher levels of toxic metals (Hg and V). Results suggest that the reduced ALA-D activity in elderly can be an additional factor involved in cognitive decline, since its inhibition throughout life could lead to accumulation of the neurotoxic compound ALA. Toxic metals were found to contribute to cognitive decline and also to influence ALA-D reactivation

PREVALÊNCIA DE CASOS ASSINTOMÁTICOS ENTRE OS INFECTADOS PELO SARS-COV-2 EM SCS: UM ESTUDO DE BASE POPULACIONAL

The SARS-CoV-2 virus began the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease marked by its high transmissibility and common symptoms as fever, coryza, headache and respiratory discomfort, also presenting a high number of asymptomatic cases. In addition, the objective was identify the prevalence of asymptomatic cases among SARS-CoV-2 infected in Santa Cruz do Sul (SCS). The research is a population-based study profile which measured the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence through a qualitative detection of IgG and IgM by rapid testing in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. The research also included sociodemographic and symptomatic data. In SCS, the sample was composed by 386 individuals on each stage of the study. This research followed all the ethics precepts. Accordingly, among the interviewed individuals, 28 tested positive for COVID-19. 12 (42,8%) of these did not manifest any characteristical clinical symptoms, only 5% presented three or more clinical symptoms. The average age of the interviewed was 49,5 (±19), in which 62,7% were female and 80,4% lived at the urban área. Regarding the presence of symptoms related to COVID-19, was verified that 70% of the interviewed individuals did not presented any symptom over the three stages. In conclusion, the collected data evaluation in this research confirmed the population testing requirement to distinguish between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, once they represent an important portion of the positive individuals for the infection, composing a remarkable spreading agent of the disease, regardless of the immunoglobulin distinction.O vírus Sars-CoV-2 ocasionou a pandemia de COVID-19, uma doença de alta transmissibilidade, caracterizada por sintomas como febre, coriza, cefaleia e desconforto respiratório, apresentando ainda, um significativo número de infectados assintomáticos. Nesse viés, objetivou-se identificar a prevalência de casos assintomáticos entre os casos reatores para SARS CoV-2 em Santa Cruz do Sul (SCS). A pesquisa trata-se do recorte de um estudo transversal de base populacional que mensurou a soroprevalência de SARS-CoV-2 através da testagem rápida para detecção qualitativa de IgG e IgM e coleta de dados sociodemográficos e sintomáticos, no Rio Grande do Sul. Na cidade de Santa Cruz do Sul, a amostra foi composta por 386 indivíduos em cada uma das três etapas do estudo. A pesquisa atendeu a todos os preceitos éticos. Posto isso, dos indivíduos entrevistados, 28 apresentaram testes reatores para COVID-19. Destes, 12 (42,8%) não manifestam sintomas clínicos característico da infecção por SARS-CoV-2. Apenas 5% apresentaram três ou mais sinais clínicos. A média da idade dos entrevistados foi de 49,5 (±19) anos, sendo que 62,7% eram do sexo feminino e 80,4% residiam na zona urbana. Quanto à presença de sintomas relacionados à COVID-19, verificou-se que 70% dos entrevistados não apresentaram sintomas ao longo das 3 etapas. Entende-se, pois, que a avaliação dos dados coletados na pesquisa em Santa Cruz do Sul ratificou a necessidade de testagem da população para distinguir os casos assintomáticos, uma vez que representam importante proporção dos casos reatores, independente da distinção de anticorpos, e constituem um notável agente de disseminação da doença

Are delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase inhibition and metal concentrations additional factors for the age-related cognitive decline?

Aging is often accompanied by cognitive impairments and influenced by oxidative status and chemical imbalances. Thus, this study was conducted to examinewhether age-related cognitive deficit is associated with oxidative damage, especially with inhibition of the enzyme delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D), as well as to verify the influence of some metals in the enzyme activity and cognitive performance. Blood ALA-D activity, essential (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) and non-essential metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, V) were measured in 50 elderly and 20 healthy young subjects. Cognitive function was assessed by tests from Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) battery and other. The elderly group presented decreased ALA-D activity compared to the young group. The index of ALA-D reactivation was similar to both study groups, but negatively associated with metals. The mean levels of essential metals were within the reference values, while the most toxic metals were above them in both groups. Cognitive function impairments were observed in elderly group and were associated with decreased ALA-D activity, with lower levels of Se and higher levels of toxic metals (Hg and V). Results suggest that the reduced ALA-D activity in elderly can be an additional factor involved in cognitive decline, since its inhibition throughout life could lead to accumulation of the neurotoxic compound ALA. Toxic metals were found to contribute to cognitive decline and also to influence ALA-D reactivation

Are delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase inhibition and metal concentrations additional factors for the age-related cognitive decline?

Aging is often accompanied by cognitive impairments and influenced by oxidative status and chemical imbalances. Thus, this study was conducted to examinewhether age-related cognitive deficit is associated with oxidative damage, especially with inhibition of the enzyme delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D), as well as to verify the influence of some metals in the enzyme activity and cognitive performance. Blood ALA-D activity, essential (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) and non-essential metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, V) were measured in 50 elderly and 20 healthy young subjects. Cognitive function was assessed by tests from Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) battery and other. The elderly group presented decreased ALA-D activity compared to the young group. The index of ALA-D reactivation was similar to both study groups, but negatively associated with metals. The mean levels of essential metals were within the reference values, while the most toxic metals were above them in both groups. Cognitive function impairments were observed in elderly group and were associated with decreased ALA-D activity, with lower levels of Se and higher levels of toxic metals (Hg and V). Results suggest that the reduced ALA-D activity in elderly can be an additional factor involved in cognitive decline, since its inhibition throughout life could lead to accumulation of the neurotoxic compound ALA. Toxic metals were found to contribute to cognitive decline and also to influence ALA-D reactivation