Genome-wide association and HLA fine-mapping studies identify risk loci and genetic pathways underlying allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is the most common clinical presentation of allergy, affecting 400 million people worldwide, with increasing incidence in westernized countries1,2. To elucidate the genetic architecture and understand the underlying disease mechanisms, we carried out a meta-analysis of allergic rhinitis in 59,762 cases and 152,358 controls of European ancestry and identified a total of 41 risk loci for allergic rhinitis, including 20 loci not previously associated with allergic rhinitis, which were confirmed in a replication phase of 60,720 cases and 618,527 controls. Functional annotation implicated genes involved in various immune pathways, and fine mapping of the HLA region suggested amino acid variants important for antigen binding. We further performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses of allergic sensitization against inhalant allergens and nonallergic rhinitis, which suggested shared genetic mechanisms across rhinitis-related traits. Future studies of the identified loci and genes might identify novel targets for treatment and prevention of allergic rhinitis

O compartilhamento do cuidado em saúde mental: uma experiência de cogestão de um centro de atenção psicossocial em Fortaleza, CE, apoiada em abordagens psicossociais The partnership in the mental health care: an experience in psicossocial approaches and in the co-management of a mental health community service in Fortaleza/CE

Este artigo aborda a trajetória de uma experiência comunitária vinculada a uma organização não governamental, o Movimento de Saúde Mental Comunitária do Bom Jardim e a parceria celebrada entre essa entidade e a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Fortaleza. Tal parceria vem proporcionando a expansão de ações psicossociais, bem como a cogestão de um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial tipo II inaugurado em 2005 (CAPS Comunitário do Bom Jardim). Geograficamente situado na Regional V, área com os piores indicadores sociais e sanitários de Fortaleza, o Movimento de Saúde Mental Comunitária do Bom Jardim oferta atividades como Terapia Comunitária, Biodança, Arteterapia, Grupos de autoestima, Massoterapia, Reiki, Shiatsu, Quiropraxia, Oficinas de arte, música e teatro, cursos profissionalizantes e atividades lúdicas e educativas para diversas faixas etárias da população do bairro. A articulação entre as ações implementadas pelo Movimento de Saúde Mental Comunitária do Bom Jardim e a parceria com a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Fortaleza apresenta desafios e possibilidades na tentativa de construção da integralidade no campo da atenção psicossocial. Neste artigo apresentamos a trajetória histórica da referida entidade, descrevemos algumas de suas principais atividades e realizamos uma breve análise da parceria com a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde e o processo de cogestão do Centro de Atenção Psicossocial, apontando também alguns desafios e possibilidades encontradas nessa tentativa de convergência entre uma concepção de trabalho comunitário e a lógica burocrático-normativa sobre a qual geralmente se sustenta a atuação de instituições estatais de saúde.<br>This is the report of the partnership experience between a nongovernmental organization that works with Mental Health and the Health Municipal Commission of Fortaleza/Ceará. This partnership has expanded several psychosocial actions as Community Therapy, Biodance, Self-Esteem Groups, courses of arts/music, massotherapy, herbal medicine therapy and other integrative practices. The co-management of a Psychosocial Center has also been articulated. This paper describes the trajectory of the nongovernmental organization, describes some of the activities offered to the population and analyses the possibilities, difficulties and challenges of the partnership that has been essayed

Genome-wide association and HLA fine-mapping studies identify risk loci and genetic pathways underlying allergic rhinitis

Abstract Allergic rhinitis is the most common clinical presentation of allergy, affecting 400 million people worldwide, with increasing incidence in westernized countries1,2. To elucidate the genetic architecture and understand the underlying disease mechanisms, we carried out a meta-analysis of allergic rhinitis in 59,762 cases and 152,358 controls of European ancestry and identified a total of 41 risk loci for allergic rhinitis, including 20 loci not previously associated with allergic rhinitis, which were confirmed in a replication phase of 60,720 cases and 618,527 controls. Functional annotation implicated genes involved in various immune pathways, and fine mapping of the HLA region suggested amino acid variants important for antigen binding. We further performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses of allergic sensitization against inhalant allergens and nonallergic rhinitis, which suggested shared genetic mechanisms across rhinitis-related traits. Future studies of the identified loci and genes might identify novel targets for treatment and prevention of allergic rhinitis. An Author Correction to this article was published on 16 August 2018. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0197-

Stachys alpina L. (BR0000010972687)

Belgium Herbarium image of Meise Botanic Garden

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora