A strategy to identify housekeeping genes suitable for analysis in breast cancer diseases

Standard curve and serial dilutions for nHKGs and tHKGs. The x axis represents the dilution series (1:800, 1:400, 1:200 and 1:100) and the y axis represents the mean of CT for each gene. The correlation coefficient r is given for each gene inside parentheses. (PDF 53 kb

Dissemination of mycobacteria to the thymus renders newly generated T cells tolerant to the invading pathogen

The ability of the thymus to generate a population of T cells that is, for the most part, self-restricted and self-tolerant depends to a great extent on the Ags encountered during differentiation. We recently showed that mycobacteria disseminate to the thymus, which raised the questions of how mycobacteria within the thymus influence T cell differentiation and whether such an effect impacts host-pathogen interactions. Athymic nude mice were reconstituted with thymic grafts from Mycobacterium avium-infected or control noninfected donors. T cells generated from thymi of infected donors seemed generally normal, because they retained the ability to reconstitute the periphery and to respond to unspecific stimuli in vitro as well as to antigenic stimulation with third-party Ags, such as OVA, upon in vivo immunization. However, these cells were unable to mount a protective immune response against a challenge with M. avium. The observation that thymic infection interferes with T cell differentiation, generating T cells that are tolerant to pathogen-specific Ags, is of relevance to understand the immune response during chronic persistent infections. In addition, it has potential implications for the repertoire of T cells generated in patients with a mycobacterial infection recovering from severe lymphopenia, such as patients coinfected with HIV and receiving antiretroviral therapy.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (PIC/IC/83313/2007; PTDC/SAU-MII/101663/2008) and the American-Portuguese Biomedical Research Fund. C.N., S.R., and C.N.-A. are recipients of PhD fellowships from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi

Correlação entre as alterações osteocondrais evidenciadas à ressonância magnética e a progressão da doença

PURPOSE: To determine the consequences of the chronic use of systemic corticosteroids in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis by means of evaluating osteochondral effects depicted by magnetic resonance imaging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 69 children (72 knees) with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Two groups were studied. Group I: 34 (49.3%) children had previous or current use of systemic corticotherapy (22 girls; 12 boys; mean age: 11.3 years; mean disease duration: 5.9 years; mean corticotherapy duration: 2.9 years; mean cumulative dose of previous corticosteroids: 5000 mg); Group II: 35 (50.7%) children had no previous use of corticosteroids (27 girls; 8 boys; mean age: 11.7 years; mean disease duration: 5.3 years). The groups were compared statistically. RESULTS: In the group that had received corticotherapy (Group I), osteochondral abnormalities were significantly correlated to long-standing disease (>;3.5 years; pOBJETIVO: Determinar as conseqüências do uso crônico de corticosteróides sistêmicos em crianças com artrite reumatóide juvenil através da avaliação dos efeitos osteocondrais à ressonância magnética. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Achados clínicos e imaginológicos (ressonância magnética) de 72 joelhos em 69 crianças com artrite reumatóide juvenil foram revisados. Trinta e quatro (49.3%) pacientes fizeram uso prévio de corticoterapia sistêmica (22 pacientes do sexo feminino; 12 pacientes do sexo masculino; idade média: 11.3 anos; duração média da doença: 5.9 anos; duração média da corticoterapia: 2.9 anos; dose média cumulativa de corticosteróides: 5000 mg); 35 (50.7%) pacientes não haviam feito uso prévio de corticoterapia sistêmica (27 pacientes do sexo feminino; 8 pacientes do sexo masculino; idade média: 11.7 anos; duração média da doença: 5.3 anos). RESULTADOS: No grupo que recebeu corticoterapia sistêmica prévia (Grupo I) a presença de alterações osteocondrais à ressonância magnética relacionou-se de uma forma estatisticamente significativa com longo tempo de duração da doença (>;3.5 years;

IL-10 overexpression predisposes to invasive aspergillosis by suppressing antifungal immunity

© 2017 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & ImmunologyProinflammatory immune responses are critically required for antimicrobial host defenses; however, excessive inflammation has the potential to damage host tissues thereby paradoxically contributing to the progression of infection. A central negative regulator of inflammatory responses is IL-10, an immunosuppressive cytokine with a wide variety of functions across multiple cell types. Although the role of IL-10 during infection appears to vary for different microorganisms, a largely detrimental role has been attributed to this cytokine during fungal disease. Given the variable risk of infection and its outcome among patients with comparable predisposing factors, susceptibility to invasive aspergillosis (IA) is thought to rely largely on genetic predisposition. The initial investigation of genetic variability at the IL10 locus led to the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influencing its transcriptional activity; thus, IL-10 may be a reasonable candidate for the genetic regulation of susceptibility to IA in high-risk patients.Supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013), the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (contracts IF/00735/2014 to A.C., IF/01390/2014 to E.T., IF/00021/2014 to R.S., and SFRH/BPD/96176/2013 to C.C.), the Conselho de Reitores das Universidades Portuguesas (CRUP), Portugal (Ações Integradas Luso-Alemãs A-43/16), the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) (project-ID 57212690), the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (Madrid, Spain) (grant #PI12/02688) and the ERA-NET PathoGenoMics (grant #0315900A).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

High morbid-mortability and reduced level of osteoporosis diagnosis among elderly people who had hip fractures in São Paulo City

OBJECTIVE: To know the morbid-mortality following an osteoporotic hip fracture in elderly patients living in São Paulo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study evaluated prospectively all patient over 60 years admitted in 2 school-hospitals in the city of São Paulo in a following 6-month period due to a osteoporotic proximal femur fracture. All of them filled up the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and had their chart reviewed. After 6 months they were re-interviewed. Linear regression analysis was utilized to determine the factors related to functional ability. RESULTS: 56 patients were included (mean age 80.7 ± 7.9 years old, 80.4% females). After the 6-month follow up the mortality rate was 23.2%. Only 30% of the patients returned to their previous activities, and 11.6% became totally dependent. Factors related to worse functional ability after fracture were HAQ before fracture, institutionalization after fracture and age (r² 0.482). The diagnosis of osteoporosis was informed only by 13.9% of them, and just 11.6% received any treatment for that. CONCLUSION: Our results showed the great impact of these fractures on mortality and in the functional ability of these patients. Nevertheless, many of our physicians do not inform the patients about the diagnosis of osteoporosis and, consequently, the treatment of this condition is jeopardized.As fraturas osteoporóticas de fêmur proximal trazem graves conseqüências quanto à morbimortalidade e à qualidade de vida, mas desconhece-se este impacto no Brasil. OBJETIVO: Conhecer a morbimortalidade decorrente deste tipo de fraturas em idosos na cidade de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos todos os pacientes com mais de 60 anos internados por fraturas de fêmur proximal durante seis meses, em dois hospitais de São Paulo. Os pacientes preencheram o questionário de capacidade funcional (HAQ), tiveram seu prontuário examinado e foram reavaliados após seis meses. Utilizou-se a análise de regressão linear para determinar os fatores relacionados à capacidade funcional. RESULTADOS: Cinqüenta e seis pacientes foram incluídos no estudo (80,7 ± 7,9 anos; 80,4% mulheres). A mortalidade em seis meses foi de 23,2%. Apenas 30% retornaram plenamente às suas atividades prévias e 11,6% tornaram-se completamente dependentes. Os fatores que mais bem conseguiram prever pior capacidade funcional após a fratura foram HAQ pré-fratura, institucionalização pós-fratura e idade (r² 0,482). Somente 13,9% receberam o diagnóstico de osteoporose e 11,6% iniciaram algum tratamento. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados do presente estudo demonstram o impacto deste tipo de fraturas sobre a mortalidade e a capacidade funcional. Entretanto, a falha médica no diagnóstico e na orientação de tratamento da osteoporose permanece elevada.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaSanta Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo Departamento de OrtopediaUNIFESP-EPM EPMUNIFESP, EPM, EPMSciEL

A randomized comparative study of patients undergoing myocardial revascularization with or without cardiopulmonary bypass surgery: The MASS III Trial

The MASS III Trial is a large project from a single institution, The Heart Institute of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil (InCor), enrolling patients with coronary artery disease and preserved ventricular function. The aim of the MASS III Trial is to compare medical effectiveness, cerebral injury, quality of life, and the cost-effectiveness of coronary surgery with and without of cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with multivessel coronary disease referred for both strategies. The primary endpoint should be a composite of cardiovascular mortality, cerebrovascular accident, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and refractory angina requiring revascularization. The secondary end points in this trial include noncardiac mortality, presence and severity of angina, quality of life based on the SF-36 Questionnaire, and cost-effectiveness at discharge and at 5-year follow-up. In this scenario, we will analyze the cost of the initial procedure, hospital length of stay, resource utilization, repeat hospitalization, and repeat revascularization events during the follow-up. Exercise capacity will be assessed at 6-months, 12-months, and the end of follow-up. A neurocognitive evaluation will be assessed in a subset of subjects using the Brain Resource Center computerized neurocognitive battery. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging will be made to detect any cerebral injury before and after procedures in patients who undergo coronary artery surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass

MISpheroID: a knowledgebase and transparency tool for minimum information in spheroid identity

Spheroids are three-dimensional cellular models with widespread basic and translational application across academia and industry. However, methodological transparency and guidelines for spheroid research have not yet been established. The MISpheroID Consortium developed a crowdsourcing knowledgebase that assembles the experimental parameters of 3,058 published spheroid-related experiments. Interrogation of this knowledgebase identified heterogeneity in the methodological setup of spheroids. Empirical evaluation and interlaboratory validation of selected variations in spheroid methodology revealed diverse impacts on spheroid metrics. To facilitate interpretation, stimulate transparency and increase awareness, the Consortium defines the MISpheroID string, a minimum set of experimental parameters required to report spheroid research. Thus, MISpheroID combines a valuable resource and a tool for three-dimensional cellular models to mine experimental parameters and to improve reproducibility. © 2021, The Author(s)

Rehabilitation and release of confiscated songbirds into the wild: A pilot study

Songbirds are currently the most prevalent animals in illegal trafficking in Brazil and other countries, so they are often confiscated, and this poses legal, ethical, and conservation challenges. Returning them to nature requires complex and expensive management, a topic that is sparingly addressed in the literature. Here, we described the processes and costs associated with an attempt to rehabilitate and release confiscated songbirds into the wild. A total of 1,721 songbirds of several species were quarantined, rehabilitated, and released, primarily on two farms located within their typical geographical distribution. Health assessments were performed on samples from 370 birds. Serology revealed no antibodies against Newcastle disease, and Salmonella spp. cultures were negative. Real-time polymerase chain reactions detected M. gallisepticum in samples from seven birds. Atoxoplasma spp. and Acuaria spp. infections, sepsis, and trauma were the top causes of bird death. About 6% of the released birds were recaptured, within an average period of 249 days after release, and at a mean distance of 2,397 meters from the release sites. The majority of these birds were found with free-living mates within or close to fragments of transitional ecoregions with native or cultivated grasslands, and native groves/forests, and shrublands. However, eucalyptus plantations with rich understory regeneration provided a suitable environment for the released forest species to settle, since they were recaptured during the defense of these sites. Over half of the recaptured birds presented behavioral profiles with both dominant and tame traits. Birds with dominant traits are more likely to settle in habitats and face the live decoys during fieldwork, whereas birds with tame characteristics tend to accept close contact with humans. Ultramarine grosbeak (Cyanoloxia brissonii), the least common species among those released, at the release sites showed an almost 2-fold recapture rate in the shortest mean distances from the release sites. This suggests less territory competition, perhaps a major factor of bird re-establishment here. The total per-bird cost was USD 57. Our findings suggested suitable survival and re-establishment of confiscated songbirds in the wild, when managed as we describe