Falls in hospital settings: a longitudinal study

This study aims to assess the prevalence of falls, understand their consequences, identify causes and analyze intervention strategies to prevent them. This is a descriptive longitudinal study, from 2007 to 2009, in which nurses recorded patients' falls in a medicine ward, using a scale developed for this end. Most falls occurred with partially dependent patients, with a mean age ranging from 64 to 74 years. The bedroom was, in all of these years, the place where most of these falls occurred. Although most falls did not have consequences, they were observed in 36% of the cases. The number of falls increased throughout the years of the study. There was also a difference in the percentage of occurrences in the afternoon and night shifts (39% in 2007, 57% in 2008 and 64% in 2009). The identification of obstacles to referral and how to overcome them are analyzed here.Este estudio intenta evaluar la prevalencia de las caídas, conocer sus consecuencias, identificar causas y estudiar estrategias de intervención para prevenirlas. Es un estudio descriptivo longitudinal, realizado entre 2007 y 2009, donde los enfermeros registraron las caídas de enfermos en un servicio de medicina, de acuerdo con una escala elaborada para este propósito. La mayoría de las caídas ocurrió en enfermos parcialmente dependientes, cuyas edades variaban entre 64 y 74 años. La habitación fue, en todos los años, donde mayoritariamente estas ocurrieron. Aunque la mayoría de las caídas no hayan tenido consecuencias, se registraron en 36% de los casos. Este número aumentó a lo largo de los años del estudio. Se rebeló, igualmente, una diferencia en la proporcionalidad del número de registros para los turnos de la tarde/noche (39%, 2007, 57%, 2008 y 64%, 2009). Se analiza la identificación de las barreras a la referencia y como rebasar estas barreras.Este estudo visou avaliar a prevalência das quedas, conhecer as suas consequências, identificar as causas e estudar estratégias de intervenção para preveni-las. É um estudo descritivo longitudinal, de 2007 a 2009, com registro, pelos enfermeiros, das quedas dos doentes, num serviço de medicina, em escala construída para o efeito. A maioria das quedas ocorreu em doentes parcialmente dependentes, variando a idade entre 64 e 74 anos. O quarto foi, em todos os anos, o local onde maioritariamente ocorreram. Embora da maioria das quedas não houvesse resultado consequências, essas foram registradas em 36% dos casos. O número de quedas registrado aumentou ao longo dos anos do estudo. De igual modo se revelou diferença na proporcionalidade do número de registros para os turnos da tarde e noite (39% em 2007, 57% em 2008 e 64% em 2009). A identificação de barreiras à referenciação e como as ultrapassar são analisadas

Galectin-3 negatively regulates the frequency and function of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and influences the course of Leishmania major infection

Galectin-3, an endogenous glycan-binding protein, plays essential roles during microbial infection by modulating innate and adaptive immunity. However, the role of galectin-3 within the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T regulatory (TREG) cell compartment has not yet been explored. Here, we found, in a model of Leishmania major infection, that galectin-3 deficiency increases the frequency of peripheral TREG cells both in draining lymph nodes (LNs) and sites of infection. These observations correlated with an increased severity of the disease, as shown by increased footpad swelling and parasite burden. Galectin-3-deficient (Lgals3−/−) TREG cells displayed higher CD103 expression, showed greater suppressive capacity, and synthesized higher amounts of IL-10 compared with their wild-type (WT) counterpart. Furthermore, both TREG cells and T effector (TEFF) cells from Lgals3−/− mice showed higher expression of Notch1 and the Notch target gene Hes-1. Interestingly, Notch signaling components were also altered in both TREG and TEFF cells from uninfected Lgals3−/− mice. Thus, endogenous galectin-3 regulates the frequency and function of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ TREG cells and alters the course of L. major infection.Fil: Fermino, Marise L.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Dias, Fabrício C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Lopes, Carla D.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Souza, Maria A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Cruz, Ângela K.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Liu, Fu Tong. University of California at Davis; Estados UnidosFil: Chammas, Roger. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Roque Barreira, Maria C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Bernardes, Emerson S.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Time-Course of Changes in Physiological, Psychological and Performance markers Following a Functional-Fitness Competition

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(3): 904-918, 2019. Functional Fitness Training (FFT) programs are characterized by utilizing a high volume of training and using a variety of high intensity exercises. While FFT are growing in the number of practitioners and popularity, the relationship between physiological biomarkers and subjective scales in the specific context of FFT has not yet been evaluated in the literature. The purpose of the present study was to monitor the time-course response of cytokines (IL-10 and 1L-1b), immune variables (C-reactive protein -CRP and immunoglobulin A-IgA), hormonal milieu (cortisol-C, total testosterone-TT, free testosterone-FT and testosterone/cortisol-T/C ratio), creatine kinase-CK, muscle performance (countermovement jump height) and perceived well-being (WB) following a functional fitness competition. Nine amateur male athletes (age 27.1 ± 4.1 years; training experience 2.2 ± 1.3 years) completed five workouts over three consecutive days of FFT-competition. All variables were measured before, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h following the last day of competition. The FFT-competition induced a decrease in IL10/IL1bratio approximately 5% after 24h, 21% after 48h and 31% after 72h. Delta T/C ratio remained unchanged during the post-competition period. IgA displayed a significant increase 24h and 72h post FFT-competition. The WB status score was higher 72h after the FFT-competition as compared with pre-competition. The present findings suggest that FFT-competition induces transient changes in some inflammatory and hormonal biomarkers, and perceived well-being seems to be efficient to detect changes in muscle performance

Novel insights into the genomic basis of citrus canker based on the genome sequences of two strains of Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolii

Background: Citrus canker is a disease that has severe economic impact on the citrus industry worldwide. There are three types of canker, called A, B, and C. The three types have different phenotypes and affect different citrus species. The causative agent for type A is Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, whose genome sequence was made available in 2002. Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolii strain B causes canker B and Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolii strain C causes canker C. Results: We have sequenced the genomes of strains B and C to draft status. We have compared their genomic content to X. citri subsp. citri and to other Xanthomonas genomes, with special emphasis on type III secreted effector repertoires. In addition to pthA, already known to be present in all three citrus canker strains, two additional effector genes, xopE3 and xopAI, are also present in all three strains and are both located on the same putative genomic island. These two effector genes, along with one other effector-like gene in the same region, are thus good candidates for being pathogenicity factors on citrus. Numerous gene content differences also exist between the three cankers strains, which can be correlated with their different virulence and host range. Particular attention was placed on the analysis of genes involved in biofilm formation and quorum sensing, type IV secretion, flagellum synthesis and motility, lipopolysacharide synthesis, and on the gene xacPNP, which codes for a natriuretic protein. Conclusion: We have uncovered numerous commonalities and differences in gene content between the genomes of the pathogenic agents causing citrus canker A, B, and C and other Xanthomonas genomes. Molecular genetics can now be employed to determine the role of these genes in plant-microbe interactions. The gained knowledge will be instrumental for improving citrus canker control.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientIfico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Coordenacao para Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES)Fundo de Defesa da Citricultura (FUNDECITRUS

The global abundance of tree palms

Aim Palms are an iconic, diverse and often abundant component of tropical ecosystems that provide many ecosystem services. Being monocots, tree palms are evolutionarily, morphologically and physiologically distinct from other trees, and these differences have important consequences for ecosystem services (e.g., carbon sequestration and storage) and in terms of responses to climate change. We quantified global patterns of tree palm relative abundance to help improve understanding of tropical forests and reduce uncertainty about these ecosystems under climate change. Location Tropical and subtropical moist forests. Time period Current. Major taxa studied Palms (Arecaceae). Methods We assembled a pantropical dataset of 2,548 forest plots (covering 1,191 ha) and quantified tree palm (i.e., ≥10 cm diameter at breast height) abundance relative to co‐occurring non‐palm trees. We compared the relative abundance of tree palms across biogeographical realms and tested for associations with palaeoclimate stability, current climate, edaphic conditions and metrics of forest structure. Results On average, the relative abundance of tree palms was more than five times larger between Neotropical locations and other biogeographical realms. Tree palms were absent in most locations outside the Neotropics but present in >80% of Neotropical locations. The relative abundance of tree palms was more strongly associated with local conditions (e.g., higher mean annual precipitation, lower soil fertility, shallower water table and lower plot mean wood density) than metrics of long‐term climate stability. Life‐form diversity also influenced the patterns; palm assemblages outside the Neotropics comprise many non‐tree (e.g., climbing) palms. Finally, we show that tree palms can influence estimates of above‐ground biomass, but the magnitude and direction of the effect require additional work. Conclusions Tree palms are not only quintessentially tropical, but they are also overwhelmingly Neotropical. Future work to understand the contributions of tree palms to biomass estimates and carbon cycling will be particularly crucial in Neotropical forests

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio