Can meaningful effective connectivities be obtained between auditory cortical regions?

Structural equation modelling (SEM) of neuroimaging data can be evaluated both for the goodness of fit of the model and for the strength of path coefficients (as an index of effective connectivity). SEM of auditory fMRI data is made difficult by the necessary sparse temporal sampling of the time series (to avoid contamination of auditory activation by the response to scanner noise), and by the paucity of well-defined anatomical information to constrain the functional model. We used SEM (i.e. a model incorporating latent variables) to investigate how well fMRI data in four adjacent cortical fields can be described as an auditory network. Seven out of 14 models (2 hemispheres x (6 subjects and 1 group)) produced a plausible description of the measured data. Since the auditory model to be tested is not fully validated by anatomical data, our approach requires that goodness of fit must be confirmed to assure generalisability of connectivity patterns. For good-fitting models, connectivity patterns varied significantly across subjects and were not replicable across stimulus conditions. SEM of central auditory function therefore appears to be highly sensitive to the voxel-selection procedure and/or the sampling of the time series

Mercapturate Pathway in the Tubulocentric Perspective of Diabetic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND: The recent growing evidence that the proximal tubule underlies the early pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is unveiling novel and promising perspectives. This pathophysiological concept links tubulointerstitial oxidative stress, inflammation, hypoxia, and fibrosis with the progression of DKD. In this new angle for DKD, the prevailing molecular mechanisms on proximal tubular cells emerge as an innovative opportunity for prevention and management of DKD as well as to improve diabetic dysmetabolism. SUMMARY: The mercapturate pathway (MAP) is a classical metabolic detoxification route for xenobiotics that is emerging as an integrative circuitry detrimental to resolve tubular inflammation caused by endogenous electrophilic species. Herein we review why and how it might underlie DKD. Key Messages: MAP is a hallmark of proximal tubular cell function, and cysteine-S-conjugates might represent targets for early intervention in DKD. Moreover, the biomonitoring of urinary mercapturates from metabolic inflammation products might be relevant for the implementation of preventive/management strategies in DKD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Croup and COVID‐19

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prevalence and Factors Related to Anaemia in Children Aged 6–59 Months Attending a Quaternary Health Facility in Maputo, Mozambique

Globally, anaemia prevails as a public health issue, being also a concern in Mozambique, where about two-thirds of children 6-59 months of age are affected by this condition. We carried out this study to estimate anaemia prevalence and evaluate structural determinants and haematological parameters association among children aged 6-59 months attending pediatric inpatient and outpatient services in a Quaternary Health Facility in Maputo City Province, Mozambique. We collected data from 637 inpatients or outpatients who attended pediatric consultations at the Maputo Central Hospital. The overall rate of anaemia in children aged 6-59 months was 62.2% (396/637), with 30.9% moderate anaemia (197/637), 23.9% mild anaemia (152/637), and 7.4% severe anaemia (47/637). Among our study participants, critical factors for anaemia were those concerning the age group, child´s caregiver schooling, malaria and size of the liver.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genetic divergence among African and American cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. race latifolium H.) cultivars and inbred lines through random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers.

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is an important cash crop and the second largest source of textile fiber and edible oil throughout the world. This study was conducted to investigate the genetic divergence through random amplified polymorphism (RAPD) molecular markers among the introduced African and American cultivars and inbred lines of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. raça latifolium H.) in Mozambique. We used 24 RAPD primers that amplified a total of 166 bands, identifying 90.96% ofpolymorphism. The intra and inter group genetic variability quantification evidenced significant variability of 16.30% between the African and American groups. The highest genetic similarity was observed among the African commercial cotton cultivars, whereas American cultivars and inbred lines were considered the most dissimilar ones. The arithmetic complement of Jaccard, obtained with 151 RAPD molecular markers showed that African cultivars Albar BC853 and STAM 42 were the most similar, while the most dissimilar combinations were TAMCOT Sphinx and ISA 205 followed by TAMCOT Sphinx vs ALBAR BC853 and TAMCOT Sphinx vs REMU 40 combinations.Keywords: Molecular variance analysis, decamer primers, dissimilarity, Gossypium hirsutum, molecular markers

Polymerase Chain Reaction Screening for Fungemia and/or Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

INTRODUCTION: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a life-threatening complication in patients with hematologic malignancies, mainly in acute leukemia patients, following chemotherapy. IFI incidence is increasing, and associated mortality remains high due to unreliable diagnosis. Antifungal drugs are often limited by inadequate antimicrobial spectrum and side effects. Thus, the detection of circulating fungal DNA has been advocated as a rapid, more sensitive diagnostic tool. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 01 and January 03, weekly blood samples (1,311) were screened from 193 patients undergoing intensive myelosuppressive or immunosuppressive therapy. IFI cases were classified according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group criteria. Fungal DNA was extracted from whole blood and amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) published primers that bind to the conserved regions of the fungal 18S rRNA gene sequence. In our study, two or more consecutive positive samples were always associated with fungal disease. RESULTS: PCR screening predicted the development of IFI to be 17 days (median). This test had a specificity of 91.1% and a sensitivity of 75%. IFI incidence was 7.8%. DISCUSSION: Therefore, our results confirm the potential usefulness of PCR serial screening and the clinical applicability in everyday routine. PCR screening offers a noninvasive repeatable aid to the diagnosis of IFI

Results from on-the-ground efforts to promote sustainable cattle ranching in the Brazilian Amazon

Agriculture in Brazil is booming. Brazil has the world’s second largest cattle herd and is the second largest producer of soybeans, with the production of beef, soybeans, and bioethanol forecast to increase further. Questions remain, however, about how Brazil can reconcile increases in agricultural production with protection of its remaining natural vegetation. While high hopes have been placed on the potential for intensification of low-productivity cattle ranching to spare land for other agricultural uses, cattle productivity in the Amazon biome (29% of the Brazilian cattle herd) remains stubbornly low, and it is not clear how to realize theoretical productivity gains in practice. We provide results from six initiatives in the Brazilian Amazon, which are successfully improving cattle productivity in beef and dairy production on more than 500,000 hectares of pastureland, while supporting compliance with the Brazilian Forest Code. Spread across diverse geographies, and using a wide range of technologies, participating farms have improved productivity by 30-490%. High-productivity cattle ranching requires some initial investment (R$1300-6900/ha or US$410-2180/ha), with average pay-back times of 2.5-8.5 years. We conclude by reflecting on the challenges that must be overcome to scale up these young initiatives, avoid rebound increases in deforestation, and mainstream sustainable cattle ranching in the Amazon.E.K.H.J.zE was funded by BBSRC grant BB/J014540/1 and the Tim Whitmore 215 Trust Fund

HPV type infection in different anogenital sites among HIV-positive Brazilian women

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens