SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics in blood donors and COVID-19 epidemiology in eight Brazilian state capitals: A serial cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 situation in Brazil is complex due to large differences in the shape and size of regional epidemics. Understanding these patterns is crucial to understand future outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 or other respiratory pathogens in the country. METHODS: We tested 97,950 blood donation samples for IgG antibodies from March 2020 to March 2021 in 8 of Brazil's most populous cities. Residential postal codes were used to obtain representative samples. Weekly age- and sex-specific seroprevalence were estimated by correcting the crude seroprevalence by test sensitivity, specificity, and antibody waning. RESULTS: The inferred attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2020, before the Gamma variant of concern (VOC) was dominant, ranged from 19.3% (95% credible interval [CrI] 17.5-21.2%) in Curitiba to 75.0% (95% CrI 70.8-80.3%) in Manaus. Seroprevalence was consistently smaller in women and donors older than 55 years. The age-specific infection fatality rate (IFR) differed between cities and consistently increased with age. The infection hospitalisation rate increased significantly during the Gamma-dominated second wave in Manaus, suggesting increased morbidity of the Gamma VOC compared to previous variants circulating in Manaus. The higher disease penetrance associated with the health system's collapse increased the overall IFR by a minimum factor of 2.91 (95% CrI 2.43-3.53). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the utility of blood donor serosurveillance to track epidemic maturity and demonstrate demographic and spatial heterogeneity in SARS-CoV-2 spread. FUNDING: This work was supported by Itaú Unibanco 'Todos pela Saude' program; FAPESP (grants 18/14389-0, 2019/21585-0); Wellcome Trust and Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellowship 204311/Z/16/Z; the Gates Foundation (INV- 034540 and INV-034652); REDS-IV-P (grant HHSN268201100007I); the UK Medical Research Council (MR/S0195/1, MR/V038109/1); CAPES; CNPq (304714/2018-6); Fundação Faculdade de Medicina; Programa Inova Fiocruz-CE/Funcap - Edital 01/2020 Number: FIO-0167-00065.01.00/20 SPU N°06531047/2020; JBS - Fazer o bem faz bem

A Functional Variant in ERAP1 Predisposes to Multiple Sclerosis

The ERAP1 gene encodes an aminopeptidase involved in antigen processing. A functional polymorphism in the gene (rs30187, Arg528Lys) associates with susceptibility to ankylosying spondylitis (AS), whereas a SNP in the interacting ERAP2 gene increases susceptibility to another inflammatory autoimmune disorder, Crohn's disease (CD). We analysed rs30187 in 572 Italian patients with CD and in 517 subjects suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS); for each cohort, an independent sex- and age-matched control group was genotyped. The frequency of the 528Arg allele was significantly higher in both disease cohorts compared to the respective control population (for CD, OR = 1.20 95%CI: 1.01–1.43, p = 0.036; for RRMS, OR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.04–1.51, p = 0.01). Meta-analysis with the Wellcome Trust Cases Control Consortium GWAS data confirmed the association with MS (pmeta = 0.005), but not with CD. In AS, the rs30187 variant has a predisposing effect only in an HLA-B27 allelic background. It remains to be evaluated whether interaction between ERAP1 and distinct HLA class I alleles also affects the predisposition to MS, and explains the failure to provide definitive evidence for a role of rs30187 in CD. Results herein support the emerging concept that a subset of master-regulatory genes underlay the pathogenesis of autoimmunity

Valorisation of Biowastes for the Production of Green Materials Using Chemical Methods

With crude oil reserves dwindling, the hunt for a sustainable alternative feedstock for fuels and materials for our society continues to expand. The biorefinery concept has enjoyed both a surge in popularity and also vocal opposition to the idea of diverting food-grade land and crops for this purpose. The idea of using the inevitable wastes arising from biomass processing, particularly farming and food production, is, therefore, gaining more attention as the feedstock for the biorefinery. For the three main components of biomass—carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins—there are long-established processes for using some of these by-products. However, the recent advances in chemical technologies are expanding both the feedstocks available for processing and the products that be obtained. Herein, this review presents some of the more recent developments in processing these molecules for green materials, as well as case studies that bring these technologies and materials together into final products for applied usage

Modeling the extraction of carotene and lipids from pressed palm oil (Elaes guineensis) fibers using supercritical CO2

In this work a mathematical model to represent the kinetics of extraction of carotene and lipids from pressed palm oil (Elaes guineensis) fibers (PPOF) using supercritical CO2 is presented. The mass balance equation for the supercritical phase was solved analytically considering a pseudo steady-state. Specifically, the Bur at the solid/fluid interface was initially considered constant and afterwards corrected using the dynamic behavior of the extract composition. Experimental data to test the model were obtained at pressures of 250 and 300 bar, temperatures of 45 and 55 degrees C, and solvent flow rates of 1.2-2.0 g/min. The model represented well the experimental data at 45 degrees C as well as the literature data obtained at 250 bar, 55 degrees C and solvent flow rates of 18.9 g/min. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.181354

Supercritical extraction of carotenoids and lipids from buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), a fruit from the Amazon region

Pulp of the buriti fruit (Mauritia flexuosa, Mart.) was extracted with supercritical CO, to obtain oil fractions with a high concentration of vitamins, especially p-carotene. The raw material consisted of a mixture of pulp and peel that was scraped off the immature fruit. The extracted oil was analyzed by gas chromatography and spectrophotometry, and results were compared with those obtained by extraction using hexane as solvent. The oil extracted with hexane showed a content of about 1% carotene. Extraction with supercritical CO2 was capable of removing about 80% of the initial carotene content. Extraction experiments were carried out at pressures of 20 and 30 MPa and temperatures of 313 and 328 K. The extraction curves typically showed the three regions found in supercritical fluid extraction of natural products, i.e. beginning with a straight line characteristic of the constant rate extraction period, followed by the falling rate period, and ending with the diffusion rate period. Experimental data were correlated using the model proposed by Sovova. The model showed good agreement with experimental data. The mass transfer coefficients of the solid phase were obtained by adjusting the model equation. The solubility values calculated are within the range for common vegetable oils. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.14324725

Typification and quality control of the Andiroba (Carapa guianensis) oil via mass spectrometry fingerprinting

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The oil from the seeds of the 'Andiroba' tree, which is found throughout most tropical America, contains high levels of unsaturated triacylglycerols (TAG), which makes it attractive to the cosmetics industry. A significant amount of limonoids also confers to this Amazonian oil several pharmaceutical and medical properties. In addition, the oil is also a potential feedstock for biodiesel production, and its many uses have intensified its extractive exploitation in recent years. Herein we report on the characterization of the TAG, free fatty acids (FFA) and limonoid profiles of the Andiroba oil via mass spectrometry (MS) fingerprinting using direct electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). An ambient desorption/ionization technique known as easy ambient sonic-spray ionization (EASI-MS) was also evaluated with similar results. ESI-MS was performed either for a methanolic solution of a few microliters of the fresh oil or from a simple aqueous extract whereas EASI-MS was applied directly to a droplet of the oil resting on a paper surface. The efficacy of these MS fingerprinting techniques requiring no pre-separation and no or very simple sample preparation protocols was investigated and compared for the typification and quality of this valuable Amazonian oil.5613851391Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Financing Agency of Studies and Projects (FINEP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

The CareWell-primary care program: design of a cluster controlled trial and process evaluation of a complex intervention targeting community-dwelling frail elderly

Contains fulltext : 109717.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: With increasing age and longevity, the rising number of frail elders with complex and numerous health-related needs demands a coordinated health care delivery system integrating cure, care and welfare. Studies on the effectiveness of such comprehensive chronic care models targeting frail elders show inconclusive results. The CareWell-primary care program is a complex intervention targeting community-dwelling frail elderly people, that aims to prevent functional decline, improve quality of life, and reduce or postpone hospital and nursing home admissions of community dwelling frail elderly. METHODS/DESIGN: The CareWell-primary care study includes a (cost-) effectiveness study and a comprehensive process evaluation. In a one-year pragmatic, cluster controlled trial, six general practices are non-randomly recruited to adopt the CareWell-primary care program and six control practices will deliver 'care as usual'. Each practice includes a random sample of fifty frail elders aged 70 years or above in the cost-effectiveness study. A sample of patients and informal caregivers and all health care professionals participating in the CareWell-primary care program are included in the process evaluation. In the cost-effectiveness study, the primary outcome is the level of functional abilities as measured with the Katz-15 index. Hierarchical mixed-effects regression models / multilevel modeling approach will be used, since the study participants are nested within the general practices. Furthermore, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios will be calculated as costs per QALY gained and as costs weighed against functional abilities. In the process evaluation, mixed methods will be used to provide insight in the implementation degree of the program, patients' and professionals' approval of the program, and the barriers and facilitators to implementation. DISCUSSION: The CareWell-primary care study will provide new insights into the (cost-) effectiveness, feasibility, and barriers and facilitators for implementation of this complex intervention in primary care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The CareWell-primary care study is registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System: NCT01499797