Exploring the inflammatory profile of homelessness population: a comprehensive analysis of individuals in two temporary shelters in Lisbon

Background: Homeless people are continuously facing adverse living conditions as poor access to basic nutrition, hygiene conditions and healthcare services, being at increased risk of severe infectious diseases as HIV and hepatitis as well as cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders. The characterization of homeless people’s health is fundamental to identify their health care needs. Considering that the aforementioned diseases are associated with chronic inflammatory processes, the main goal of this study was to characterize the inflammatory profile of a homeless population through quantification in saliva of a panel of inflammatory cytokines. Methods: The inflammatory profile was assessed in 114 individuals residing in two temporary shelters located in Lisbon and that accepted to participated in the study. Inflammatory proteins were quantified using a Multiplex Immunoassay approach. Data analysis was performed using the GraphPad Prism software and statistical significance among the groups was assessed using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney test. Results: Even though some protein levels might be masked by drug treatment, data analysis showed high levels of INF-ϒ, IL-10 and TNF-α in the infectious disease group, critical cytokines for the immune response against viruses and bacteria. Also, cytokines like IL-1β and IL-6 were detected at statistically significant levels in the cardiovascular disease group and all cytokines included in this study were quantified in the mental disorders group. Conclusion: These findings may help the healthcare services in the evaluation of treatment efficacy and disease monitoring, and in the development of effective public healthcare strategies and policy interventions to improve quality of life of the homeless population.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of silages of sweet potato vine

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo selecionar clones de batata-doce com potencial para uso na alimenta??o animal. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos ao acaso, com 11 clones e quatro repeti??es. Os clones avaliados fazem parte do banco de germoplasma da Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, sendo: BD-06, BD-25, BD-15, BD-38, Cambraia, BD-31-TO, BD-67, BD-45, BD-42, BD-54 e a cultivar Brazl?ndia Rosada. Nas ramas coletadas do experimento foram avaliados o teor de mat?ria seca e as produtividades de massa verde e massa seca. Nas silagens de ramas foram avaliados o pH e os teores de mat?ria seca (MS), prote?na bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ?cido (FDA), nutrientes digest?veis totais (NDT), f?sforo, c?lcio e s?dio. N?o houve diferen?a significativa para a produtividade de massa verde e de massa seca das ramas entre os clones de batata-doce. As silagens produzidas caracterizam-se como volumosos de boa qualidade, apresentando teores satisfat?rios de prote?na bruta (11,59%), FDN (31,98 a 39,68%), FDA (29,65 a 35,45%) e NDT (62,90 a 66,91%), comprovando o potencial de utiliza??o das ramas da batata-doce na forma de silagem.Funda??o de Amparo ? Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecu?ria de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq)Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES)The objective of this study was to select potential clones of sweet potato for animal feeding purposes. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with four replications. Eleven clones BD-06, BD-25, BD-15, BD-38, Cambraia, BD-31-TO, BD-67, BD-45, BD-42, BD-54 and the cultivar Brazl?ndia Rosada belonging to germplasm bank of the Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha and Mucuri (UFVJM) were evaluated. We estimated the dry matter content and the productivity of green and dry mass of the vine. The traits pH, dry matter, crude protein phosphorus, calcium and sodium were estimated in the evaluation of silages quality. There was no significant difference in productivity of green mass and dry mass among the clones of sweet potato. The obtained silages had sufficient levels of crude protein (11.59%), neutral detergent fiber (31.98 to 39.68%), acid detergent fiber (29.65 to 35.45%) and total digestible nutrients (62.90 to 66.91%) proving the potential use of the sweet potato vine as silage in animal feeding

Trend and spatial analysis of prostate cancer mortality in the state of Sergipe, Brazil

This is an ecological study with exploratory analysis of spatial and temporal data based on mortality data with respect to prostate cancer obtained from the Mortality Information System concerning residents of the state of Sergipe, Brazil between 2000 and 2015. The analysis of temporal trends was performed using the Joinpoint Regression Program through Poisson regression. Spatial analysis was performed using the empirical Bayesian model, Kernel analysis, Global Moran and Local indices. There were 1,986 deaths due to prostate cancer, most of which occurring after 60 years of age. An increasing, non-constant but significant trend in mortality rates was noted. The kernel density estimator showed hotspot densities of the highest rates of prostate cancer mortality in the north-eastern and central regions of the state. High-risk clusters were identified for prostate cancer mortality (I = 0.55, P<0.01). There was an increase in prostate cancer mortality rates and a heterogeneous geographic distribution of risk areas, with high-risk priority areas identified in certain regions of the state. These priority areas include the municipalities located in the Northeast (Amparo do São Francisco, Aquidabã, Canhoba, Cedro de São João and Telha), the West (Frei Paulo and Pedra Mole) and the south-western region of the state (Poço Verde and Simão Dias)

XAF1 as a modifier of p53 function and cancer susceptibility

Cancer risk is highly variable in carriers of the common TP53-R337H founder allele, possibly due to the influence of modifier genes. Whole-genome sequencing identified a variant in the tumor suppressor XAF1 (E134*/Glu134Ter/rs146752602) in a subset of R337H carriers. Haplotype-defining variants were verified in 203 patients with cancer, 582 relatives, and 42,438 newborns. The compound mutant haplotype was enriched in patients with cancer, conferring risk for sarcoma (P = 0.003) and subsequent malignancies (P = 0.006). Functional analyses demonstrated that wild-type XAF1 enhances transactivation of wild-type and hypomorphic TP53 variants, whereas XAF1-E134* is markedly attenuated in this activity. We propose that cosegregation of XAF1-E134* and TP53-R337H mutations leads to a more aggressive cancer phenotype than TP53-R337H alone, with implications for genetic counseling and clinical management of hypomorphic TP53 mutant carriers.Fil: Pinto, Emilia M.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Figueiredo, Bonald C.. Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Principe; BrasilFil: Chen, Wenan. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Galvao, Henrique C.R.. Hospital de Câncer de Barretos; BrasilFil: Formiga, Maria Nirvana. A.c.camargo Cancer Center; BrasilFil: Fragoso, Maria Candida B.V.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Ashton Prolla, Patricia. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Ribeiro, Enilze M.S.F.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Felix, Gabriela. Universidade Federal da Bahia; BrasilFil: Costa, Tatiana E.B.. Hospital Infantil Joana de Gusmao; BrasilFil: Savage, Sharon A.. National Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Yeager, Meredith. National Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Palmero, Edenir I.. Hospital de Câncer de Barretos; BrasilFil: Volc, Sahlua. Hospital de Câncer de Barretos; BrasilFil: Salvador, Hector. Hospital Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona; EspañaFil: Fuster Soler, Jose Luis. Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca; EspañaFil: Lavarino, Cinzia. Hospital Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona; EspañaFil: Chantada, Guillermo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Vaur, Dominique. Comprehensive Cancer Center François Baclesse; FranciaFil: Odone Filho, Vicente. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Brugières, Laurence. Institut de Cancerologie Gustave Roussy; FranciaFil: Else, Tobias. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Stoffel, Elena M.. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Maxwell, Kara N.. University of Pennsylvania; Estados UnidosFil: Achatz, Maria Isabel. Hospital Sirio-libanês; BrasilFil: Kowalski, Luis. A.c.camargo Cancer Center; BrasilFil: De Andrade, Kelvin C.. National Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Pappo, Alberto. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Letouze, Eric. Centre de Recherche Des Cordeliers; FranciaFil: Latronico, Ana Claudia. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Mendonca, Berenice B.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Almeida, Madson Q.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Brondani, Vania B.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Bittar, Camila M.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Soares, Emerson W.S.. Hospital Do Câncer de Cascavel; BrasilFil: Mathias, Carolina. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Ramos, Cintia R.N.. Hospital de Câncer de Barretos; BrasilFil: Machado, Moara. National Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Zhou, Weiyin. National Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Jones, Kristine. National Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Vogt, Aurelie. National Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Klincha, Payal P.. National Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Santiago, Karina M.. A.c.camargo Cancer Center; BrasilFil: Komechen, Heloisa. Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Principe; BrasilFil: Paraizo, Mariana M.. Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Principe; BrasilFil: Parise, Ivy Z.S.. Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Principe; BrasilFil: Hamilton, Kayla V.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Wang, Jinling. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Rampersaud, Evadnie. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Clay, Michael R.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Murphy, Andrew J.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Lalli, Enzo. Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire; FranciaFil: Nichols, Kim E.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Ribeiro, Raul C.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Rodriguez-Galindo, Carlos. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Korbonits, Marta. Queen Mary University of London; Reino UnidoFil: Zhang, Jinghui. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Thomas, Mark G.. Colegio Universitario de Londres; Reino UnidoFil: Connelly, Jon P.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Pruett-Miller, Shondra. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Diekmann, Yoan. Colegio Universitario de Londres; Reino UnidoFil: Neale, Geoffrey. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Wu, Gang. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Zambetti, Gerard P.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados Unido

Genomics and epidemiology for gastric adenocarcinomas (GE4GAC): a Brazilian initiative to study gastric cancer

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common type of cancer worldwide with high incidences in Asia, Central, and South American countries. This patchy distribution means that GC studies are neglected by large research centers from developed countries. The need for further understanding of this complex disease, including the local importance of epidemiological factors and the rich ancestral admixture found in Brazil, stimulated the implementation of the GE4GAC project. GE4GAC aims to embrace epidemiological, clinical, molecular and microbiological data from Brazilian controls and patients with malignant and pre-malignant gastric disease. In this letter, we summarize the main goals of the project, including subject and sample accrual and current findings

Elemental composition of vegetables cultivated over coal-mining waste

ABSTRACT We assessed elemental composition of the liver in mice subjected to one-time or chronic consumption of the juice of vegetables cultivated in a vegetable garden built over deposits of coal waste. Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce), Beta vulgaris L. (beet), Brassica oleracea L. var. italica (broccoli) and Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala (kale) were collected from the coal-mining area and from a certified organic farm (control). Elemental composition was analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method. Concentrations of Mg, S, and Ca of mice subjected to one-time consumption of broccoli and concentrations of these same elements plus Si of mice receiving kale were higher in the coal-mining area. Concentrations of P, K, and Cu were increase after chronic consumption of lettuce from the coal-mining area, whereas the levels of Si, P, K, Fe, and Zn were higher in the group consuming kale from the coal-mining area. Our data suggests that people consuming vegetables grown over coal wastes may ingest significant amounts of chemical elements that pose a risk to health, since these plants contain both essential and toxic metals in a wide range of concentrations, which can do more harm than good