Fatores associados à permissão da vacinação infantil no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19

Objetivo: Identificar os fatores associados à permissão da vacinação infantil no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19.Método: Estudo transversal, com pais/responsáveis de crianças com até 1 ano 11 meses e 29 dias, idade maior ou igual a 18 anos, acesso à internet e residentes no estado de Alagoas. A coleta foi realizada entre junho de 2021 e abril de 2022, por instrumento estruturado via Google Forms®. Utilizou-se os testes estatísticos Exato de Fisher e o Qui-quadrado de Pearson.Resultados: Participaram 94 pais/responsáveis. Houve associação da permissão da vacinação infantil durante a pandemia da COVID-19 com uma maior escolaridade dos pais/responsáveis, com a ausência de vínculo educacional da criança e entre os pais/responsáveis que permitiriam a aplicação da vacina da COVID-19, caso estivesse disponível.Conclusão: A permissão da vacinação infantil no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19 foi associada a maior escolaridade dos pais/responsáveis e a ausência de vinculação educacional da criança.Descritores: Criança. Vacinas. Pandemias. COVID-19

Mismatch repair-deficient rectal cancer and resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Purpose: Evaluate response of mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) rectal cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Experimental Design: dMMR rectal tumors at Memorial Sloan Kettering were retrospectively reviewed for characteristics, treatment, and outcomes. Fifty dMMR rectal cancer patients were identified by immunohistochemistry and/or microsatellite instability analysis, with initial treatment response compared to a matched pMMR rectal cancer cohort. Germline and somatic mutation analyses were evaluated. Patient-derived dMMR rectal tumoroids were assessed for chemotherapy sensitivity. Results: Of 21 patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (fluorouracil/oxaliplatin), 6 (29%) had progression of disease. In comparison, no progression was noted in 63 pMMR rectal tumors (P = 0.0001). Rectal cancer dMMR tumoroids reflected this resistance to chemotherapy. No genomic predictors of chemotherapy response were identified. Of 16 patients receiving chemoradiation, 13 (93%) experienced tumor downstaging; one patient had stable disease, comparable to 48 pMMR rectal cancers. Of 13 patients undergoing surgery, 12 (92%) had early-stage disease. Forty-two (84%) of the 50 patients tested positive for Lynch syndrome (LS) with enrichment of germline MSH2 and MSH6 mutations when compared to 193 LS-associated colon cancer patients (MSH2, 57% vs 36%; MSH6, 17% vs 9%; P < .003). Conclusions: Over one-fourth of dMMR rectal tumors treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy exhibited disease progression. Conversely, dMMR rectal tumors were sensitive to chemoradiation. MMR status should be performed upfront in all locally advanced rectal tumors with careful monitoring for response on neoadjuvant chemotherapy and genetic testing for LS in dMMR rectal cancer patients

BacHBerry: BACterial Hosts for production of Bioactive phenolics from bERRY fruits

BACterial Hosts for production of Bioactive phenolics from bERRY fruits (BacHBerry) was a 3-year project funded by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Union that ran between November 2013 and October 2016. The overall aim of the project was to establish a sustainable and economically-feasible strategy for the production of novel high-value phenolic compounds isolated from berry fruits using bacterial platforms. The project aimed at covering all stages of the discovery and pre-commercialization process, including berry collection, screening and characterization of their bioactive components, identification and functional characterization of the corresponding biosynthetic pathways, and construction of Gram-positive bacterial cell factories producing phenolic compounds. Further activities included optimization of polyphenol extraction methods from bacterial cultures, scale-up of production by fermentation up to pilot scale, as well as societal and economic analyses of the processes. This review article summarizes some of the key findings obtained throughout the duration of the project

Para-infectious brain injury in COVID-19 persists at follow-up despite attenuated cytokine and autoantibody responses

To understand neurological complications of COVID-19 better both acutely and for recovery, we measured markers of brain injury, inflammatory mediators, and autoantibodies in 203 hospitalised participants; 111 with acute sera (1–11 days post-admission) and 92 convalescent sera (56 with COVID-19-associated neurological diagnoses). Here we show that compared to 60 uninfected controls, tTau, GFAP, NfL, and UCH-L1 are increased with COVID-19 infection at acute timepoints and NfL and GFAP are significantly higher in participants with neurological complications. Inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-12p40, HGF, M-CSF, CCL2, and IL-1RA) are associated with both altered consciousness and markers of brain injury. Autoantibodies are more common in COVID-19 than controls and some (including against MYL7, UCH-L1, and GRIN3B) are more frequent with altered consciousness. Additionally, convalescent participants with neurological complications show elevated GFAP and NfL, unrelated to attenuated systemic inflammatory mediators and to autoantibody responses. Overall, neurological complications of COVID-19 are associated with evidence of neuroglial injury in both acute and late disease and these correlate with dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses acutely

Avaliação de desempenho dos conselhos de saúde em municípios de pequeno e médio porte

Este artigo objetiva avaliar o desempenho dos conselhos de saúde (CS) em municípios de pequeno e médio porte. Trata-se de pesquisa avaliativa com a utilização do método spidergram adaptado à realidade dos CS. A matriz avaliativa foi composta por cinco dimensões: autonomia, organização, representatividade, envolvimento comunitário e influência política. O estudo foi desenvolvido nos municípios de Nova Canaã e Itapetinga, ambos no estado da Bahia, por meio de análise documental, observação das reuniões e 31 entrevistas com conselheiros de saúde. Utilizou-se a análise de conteúdo temática para a categorização dos dados. Os CS apresentaram baixo nível de desempenho, com resultados mais desfavoráveis ao menor município. Verificaram-se limitações na autonomia, como fragilidades no apoio técnico, estrutura física e dotação orçamentária. A dimensão organização revelou irregularidades na realização das reuniões e a inexistência de comissões temáticas. Foram evidenciadas fragilidades da relação entre representantes e representados. Sobre o envolvimento comunitário, observou-se o esvaziamento dos CS e baixos índices de comparecimento dos representantes. A influência política revelou diminuta capacidade dos CS em influenciar na definição das políticas de saúde locais. A adaptação da matriz avaliativa se mostrou oportuna e adequada. Os dois casos avaliados demostraram insuficiências no processo participativo e na capacidade de influência política.Our paper aimed at evaluating the performance of health councils (HC) in small and medium-sized municipalities in Brazil. This is an evaluative research. We used the spidergram method adapted to the HC reality. The evaluation matrix was composed of five dimensions: autonomy, organization, representativeness, community engagement and political influence. The study was developed in Nova Canaã and Itapetinga, state of Bahia, based on document analysis, observation of meetings, and interviews with 31 councils members. We used thematic content analysis to categorize the data. The HC showed a low level of performance, with more unfavorable results to the smaller town. We identified limited autonomy, with weaknesses in technical support, physical structure and financial independence. The organization dimension identified non-compliance with meeting scheduling and absence of thematic commissions. A weak relationship between the representatives and the organizations were observed. The dimension related to community engagement indicated empty HC and low representatives’ participation. The political influence dimensions showed limited capacity of HC to interfere in local health policies. The adaptation of the evaluative matrix has proved to be timely and appropriate to the reality of the Brazilian HC. Two cases evaluated showed weaknesses in the participatory process and in the political influence capacity

Factors associated with the permission for child vaccination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify factors associated with permission for child vaccination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Cross-sectional study, with parents/guardians of children aged up to 1 year, 11 months and 29 days, aged 18 years or older, with internet access and residents of the state of Alagoas. The collection was conducted between June 2021 and April 2022, using a structured instrument via Google forms®. Fisher’s Exact and Pearson’s chi-square statistical tests were used. Results: A total of 94 parents/guardians participated. There was an association between permission for child vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic and higher education level of parents/guardians, with the lack of an educational bond with the child, and between parents/guardians who would allow the application of the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: Permission for child vaccination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with higher education level of parents/guardians and the absence of educational bond of the child

Fatores associados à permissão da vacinação infantil no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19

Objetivo: Identificar os fatores associados à permissão da vacinação infantil no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19.Método: Estudo transversal, com pais/responsáveis de crianças com até 1 ano 11 meses e 29 dias, idade maior ou igual a 18 anos, acesso à internet e residentes no estado de Alagoas. A coleta foi realizada entre junho de 2021 e abril de 2022, por instrumento estruturado via Google Forms®. Utilizou-se os testes estatísticos Exato de Fisher e o Qui-quadrado de Pearson.Resultados: Participaram 94 pais/responsáveis. Houve associação da permissão da vacinação infantil durante a pandemia da COVID-19 com uma maior escolaridade dos pais/responsáveis, com a ausência de vínculo educacional da criança e entre os pais/responsáveis que permitiriam a aplicação da vacina da COVID-19, caso estivesse disponível.Conclusão: A permissão da vacinação infantil no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19 foi associada a maior escolaridade dos pais/responsáveis e a ausência de vinculação educacional da criança.Descritores: Criança. Vacinas. Pandemias. COVID-19

An ELISA to Detect Antibodies to Bovine Alphaherpesviruses 1 and 5 and Bubaline Alphaherpesvirus 1 in Cattle Sera

Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (subtypes 1.1, 1.2a, and 1.2b), type 5 (subtypes 5a, 5b, and 5c), and bubaline herpesvirus 1 (BuHV-1) induce highly, though not fully cross-reactive serological responses. Most types and subtypes of these viruses circulate particularly in countries of the southern hemisphere, notably Brazil and Argentina. Therefore, the detection of infected animals is important in defining prevention and control strategies, particularly when flocks are destined for international trade. Identification of infected herds is most often achieved by assays that detect antibodies, such as enzyme immunoassays (ELISAs). However, to date, no ELISA has been evaluated in its capacity to detect antibodies to these alphaherpesviruses. Here, an ELISA was developed to detect antibodies to all currently recognized BoAHV-1, BoAHV-5, and BuAHV-1 types/subtypes, and its sensitivity and specificity were determined. Six hundred bovine sera were screened in serum neutralization tests (SN) against the seven viruses. ELISAs prepared with each of the viruses were compared to SN. Subsequently, a combined assay with multiple antigens LISA was prepared by mixing five viral antigens, chosen for their highest sensitivity in the preparative assays. In comparison to SN, the mAgELISA sensitivity was 96.5% with 96.1% specificity (κ = 0.93; PPV = 95.0%; NPV = 97.3%). The findings reveal that the mAgELISA developed here is highly suitable for the detection of antibodies, comparable in sensitivity and specificity to that of SN when performed with all known types and subtypes of bovine and bubaline alphaherpesviruses

Genome sequence of bubaline alphaherpesvirus 1 (BuHV1) isolated in Australia in 1972

Bubaline alphaherpesvirus 1 (BuHV1) is a member of the family Herpesviridae, subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, genus Varicellovirus. To date, no full genome sequence of BuHV has been published. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of bubaline alphaherpesvirus 1 (BuHV1) strain b6 (BuHV1-b6), isolated from a water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in 1972 in Australia. The virus was multiplied in MDBK cells, and the DNA was extracted and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. The reads were aligned and combined into a single genome sequence, with bovine alphaherpesvirus 5 (BoHV5) strain SV507/99 (accession number NC005261) as a reference. The BuHV1-b6 genome is a linear double-stranded DNA molecule, 137,452 bp long, with a GC content of 76.8%. The genome consists of two unique sequences: a long, or UL, sequence (103,818 bp) and a short, or US, sequence (9,586 bp), with the latter being flanked by inverted IR and TR elements of 12,024 bp each. The arrangement is typical of herpesvirus genomes of the D-type. The overall sequence has a 92.2% similarity at the nucleotide level to the reference BoHV5 strain. Our report provides a significant landmark in the history of herpesviruses, represented by the genome sequence of this 44-year-old virus isolate

An ELISA to detect antibodies to bovine alphaherpesviruses 1 and 5 and bubaline alphaherpesvirus 1 in cattle sera

Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (subtypes 1.1, 1.2a, and 1.2b), type 5 (subtypes 5a, 5b, and 5c), and bubaline herpesvirus 1 (BuHV-1) induce highly, though not fully cross-reactive serological responses. Most types and subtypes of these viruses circulate particularly in countries of the southern hemisphere, notably Brazil and Argentina. Therefore, the detection of infected animals is important in defining prevention and control strategies, particularly when flocks are destined for international trade. Identification of infected herds is most often achieved by assays that detect antibodies, such as enzyme immunoassays (ELISAs). However, to date, no ELISA has been evaluated in its capacity to detect antibodies to these alphaherpesviruses. Here, an ELISA was developed to detect antibodies to all currently recognized BoAHV-1, BoAHV-5, and BuAHV-1 types/subtypes, and its sensitivity and specificity were determined. Six hundred bovine sera were screened in serum neutralization tests (SN) against the seven viruses. ELISAs prepared with each of the viruses were compared to SN. Subsequently, a combined assay with multiple antigens LISA was prepared by mixing five viral antigens, chosen for their highest sensitivity in the preparative assays. In comparison to SN, the mAgELISA sensitivity was 96.5% with 96.1% specificity (κ = 0.93; PPV = 95.0%; NPV = 97.3%). The findings reveal that the mAgELISA developed here is highly suitable for the detection of antibodies, comparable in sensitivity and specificity to that of SN when performed with all known types and subtypes of bovine and bubaline alphaherpesviruses