Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1A (UGT1A1) promoter polymorphism in young patients with sickle cell anaemia: report of the first cohort study from Nigeria

(TA) n repeat sequence (rs8175347) of UGT1A1 gene promoter polymorphism is associated with serum bilirubin levels and gallstones among different sickle cell anaemia (SCA) populations. There are no data on UGT1A1 polymorphisms and their impact on Nigerian SCA patients. In this study, we determined the distribution of the UGT1A1 (TA) n genotypes among a group of young Nigerian SCA patients and healthy controls. In addition, the influence of UGT1A1 (TA) n genotypes on the laboratory and clinical events among the patients was determined. Methods The distribution of the UGT1A1 (TA) n genotypes among 101 young Nigerian SCA patients and 64 normal appropriate controls were determined and studied. The UGT1A1 (TA) n genotypes were further classified into subgroups and used to differentiate the clinical events and laboratory parameters of the patients. Results Four (TA) n alleles:(TA)5, 6, 7, and 8 were found. These were associated with 10 genotypes: TA5/5, 5/6, 5/7, 5/8, 6/6, 6/7, 6/8, 7/7, 7/8, 8/8. The normal (wild-type)-(TA) 6/6), low- (TA) 7/7, 7/8, 8/8), intermediate- (TA) 5/7, 5/8, 6/7, 6/8), and high-activity (TA) 5/5, 5/6,) genotypes were found in 24.8, 24.8, 41.5, and 8.9% patients and 20.3, 15.6, 61, and 3.1% controls respectively. The general genotype distribution of the patients and control group were not significantly different. There were significant differences in serum bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of the patients when differentiated by the UGT1A1 (TA) n genotypes (p<0.05). Asymptomatic gallstones were found in 5.9% of patients and were significantly of the low-activity genotypes sub-group 5 (20%) vs 1(1.3%) p = 0.0033. Although, bilirubin and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) of patients with gallstones were significantly different from those without gallstone, only the serum bilirubin was associated with UGT1A1 (TA) n genotypes on multivariate analysis (p < 0.0001). Conclusion This study highlights the contribution of UGT1A1 polymorphisms, a non-globin genetic factor, to the laboratory and clinical manifestations of young Nigerian SCA patients for the first time. It also shows that children with co-inheritance of low UGT1A1 (TA) n affinity genotypes may be at risk of gallstone, hence the need to follow them up20CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP2015/141693–02014/00984–

SALMONELLA SPP. EM OVOS PRODUZIDOS EM SISTEMA AGROECOLÓGICO

Nos últimos anos, observaram-se mudanças nos métodos empregados para a produção agropecuária. Entre eles, o sistema agroecológico de produção na pequena propriedade vem ganhando espaço nos mercados em decorrência do desenvolvimento de novos hábitos alimentares. Estes são gerados a partir da preocupação com a segurança alimentar e programas do Governo que contemplam e apoiam a inclusão da agricultura familiar na produção de alimento. Entretanto, os processos produtivos em sistemas não convencionais também estão sujeitos a contaminações, como as causadas por Salmonella spp. Dessa forma, este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar e detectar a presença desta bactéria em lotes que empregam o sistema de produção de ovos em modelo agroecológico. A investigação foi realizada em cinco granjas de aves de postura e somente em um lote houve isolamento, sendo detectada e caracterizada como Salmonella Agona a partir do swab de ninho.  O controle de salmonelose em aves continua sendo imprescindível em qualquer sistema de produção para evitar a transmissão por intermédio dos ovos e, consequentemente, produzir alimentos inócuos para a saúde pública.Palavras-chave: Ninho. Transmissão. Segurança alimentar

Aquatic exercise associated or not with grape juice consumption-modulated oxidative parameters in Parkinson disease patients : a randomized intervention study

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with significant motor disabilities and cognitive decline. Importantly, the imbalance of oxidative stress is related to PD physiopathology and progression. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of grape juice consumption associated with an aquatic exercise protocol on oxidative stress parameters and cognitive function in individuals with PD. The participants were randomized into two groups: grape juice group (GJG) and control group (CG) and were submitted to 4 weeks of an aquatic intervention (twice a week, approximately 60 minutes/session). The GJG also consumed 400 ml of grape juice per day (integral and conventional) during this period. Cognitive function was assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa) questionnaire. For the analysis of oxidative stress markers, specifically lipid oxidative damage (TBARS), proteins (Carbonil), acid uric and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase), blood collection were done before and after intervention. No changes were observed in cognitive function after intervention in both groups. Regarding biomarkers, a reduction of antioxidant enzymes, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and uric acid was observed in both groups. However, only the GJG showed a significant reduction on protein oxidation levels after intervention. In conclusion, the consumption of grape juice associated with an aquatic exercise protocol might be consider an effective alternative to reduce the oxidative damage in PD, reinforcing the importance of this intervention in promoting beneficial impact in this population

De novo transcriptome analysis of Hevea brasiliensis tissues by RNA-seq and screening for molecular markers

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, is a species native to the Brazilian Amazon region and it supplies almost all the world’s natural rubber, a strategic raw material for a variety of products. One of the major challenges for developing rubber tree plantations is adapting the plant to biotic and abiotic stress. Transcriptome analysis is one of the main approaches for identifying the complete set of active genes in a cell or tissue for a specific developmental stage or physiological condition.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Here, we report on the sequencing, assembling, annotation and screening for molecular markers from a pool of H. brasiliensis tissues. A total of 17,166 contigs were successfully annotated. Then, 2,191 Single Nucleotide Variation (SNV) and 1.397 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) loci were discriminated from the sequences. From 306 putative, mainly non-synonymous SNVs located in CDS sequences, 191 were checked for their ability to characterize 23 Hevea genotypes by an allele-specific amplification technology. For 172 (90%), the nucleotide variation at the predicted genomic location was confirmed, thus validating the different steps from sequencing to the in silico detection of the SNVs.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud This is the first study of the H. brasiliensis transcriptome, covering a wide range of tissues and organs, leading to the production of the first developed SNP markers. This process could be amplified to a larger set of in silico detected SNVs in expressed genes in order to increase the marker density in available and future genetic maps. The results obtained in this study will contribute to the H. brasiliensis genetic breeding program focused on improving of disease resistance and latex yield.CNPqPROSULCAPESFUNDHER

Avanços recentes na compreensão da patogênese da Artrite Reumatoide: insights e implicações terapêuticas

A artrite reumatoide (AR) é uma doença autoimune sistêmica que afeta cerca de 1% da população mundial. Caracterizada por inflamação sinovial crônica e erosões ósseas progressivas, a AR provoca deformidade articular e incapacidade funcional, prejudicando seriamente a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. A patogênese da AR é complexa e envolve uma interação dinâmica entre fatores genéticos, imunológicos e ambientais. Nesta revisão, analisamos aprofundadamente o papel da imunidade inata e adaptativa na patogênese da AR e exploramos os avanços recentes na terapêutica da doença, com destaque para os medicamentos modificadores da doença (DMARDs), tanto biológicos quanto sintéticos. Discutimos também as perspectivas futuras para a pesquisa em AR e o desenvolvimento de terapias, com o objetivo de identificar as áreas de pesquisa mais promissoras e as lacunas ainda presentes no nosso entendimento

Produção de isobutano com hidrogenação e dessulfuração com catalisador sólido

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Química, 2018.O presente projeto de uma indústria de produção de isobutano visa fornecer dados de engenharia de processos, informações e caracterização dos compostos necessários para que a planta de produção possa ser montada como parte de um parque industrial, ou como uma planta independente. Utilizando-se o software Aspen HYSYS® para modelar e simular o processo industrial, foram obtidos dados a partir de entradas fornecidas de projeto de uma planta de propelentes, o butano. A primeira matéria-prima utilizada é o butano da refinaria, e o gás hidrogênio sendo a segunda. Através desses dados de simulação, pôde-se calcular viabilidade econômica, riscos ambientais, estratégias de controle e a otimização do sistema para a quantidade de isobutano requerida, 30.000 toneladas/ano. Após o projeto finalizado, o produto atingido poderá ser utilizado como substituinte de CFC (Clorofluorcarboneto) que poluem a atmosfera, causando degradação da camada de ozônio, como foi acordado por vários países no Protocolo de Montreal. A capacidade produtiva poderá satisfazer várias empresas do ramo que desejam tornar seus produtos ecologicamente viáveis ou que desejam fornecer isobutano como intermediário de outras reações.The present project of an industry of isobutene production aims to provide data of process engineering, information and characterization of the necessary compounds so that the production plant can be assembled as a part of an industrial park, or as an independent plant. Using Aspen HYSYS® software to model and simulate the industrial process, data were obtained from the project inputs provided from a propellant plant, Isobutene. The first raw material used is butene from refinery, and hydrogen gas is the second one. Through the simulation data, it was possible to calculate the economic viability, environmental risks, control strategies and the system optimization for the required amount of isobutene, 30.000 tons/year. After the project is completed, the final product will be used as a substitute of CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) which pollute the atmosphere, causing degradation of the ozone layer; as agreed by several countries in the Montreal Protocol. The productive capacity may satisfy companies that wish to make their products environmentally viable or wish to provide isobutane as an intermediary of their reactions

TransOdara study: the challenge of integrating methods, settings and procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect transgender women and travestis (TGW), who often lack access to healthcare due to stigma and discrimination. We describe the approach and methodology of a study investigating the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, hepatitis A, B, and C, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and human papillomavirus (HPV) among TGW, as well as their knowledge and perceptions regarding syphilis, to better inform policies to curb STIs among this vulnerable population. METHODS: TransOdara was a multicentric, cross-sectional study conducted among TGW in five capital cities from major Brazilian regions between December 2019 and July 2021. Self-identified transgender women and travestis aged >18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling after a qualitative formative phase, completed an interviewer-led questionnaire, were offered a physical examination, and were also asked to provide samples from multiple sites to detect various STIs, starting vaccination and treatment when indicated. RESULTS: A total of 1,317 participants were recruited from the five study locations: Campo Grande (n=181, 13.7%), Manaus (n=340, 25.8%), Porto Alegre (n=192, 14.6%), Salvador (n=201, 15.3%), and São Paulo (n=403, 30.6%). The recruitment period varied at each study location due to logistic constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Despite the enormous challenges posed by the co-occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and field work targeting a vulnerable, elusive, and scattered population, the TransOdara project has been effectively implemented. Caveats did not preclude 1,300 TGW from being interviewed and tested, amid a significant epidemic that disrupted health services and research projects in Brazil and worldwide

O 6º objetivo da agenda dos ODS da ONU: Debates sobre água segura y saneamento básico universalizado.

El proyecto de Trabajo Comunal Universitario (TCU) No. 540: Procesos pedagógicos y didácticos para la enseñanza de los derechos humanos y la convivencia pacífica, coordinado por la Dra. Marcela Moreno Buján, con la cooperación académica del proyecto de extensión docente Grupo de Pesquisa Derecho y Sustentabilidad (GPDS), coordinado por el Dr. Carlos Peralta Montero, han unido esfuerzos para organizar y publicar la Colección “Comunidad Académica y COVID 19”. Esta colección, conformada por tres volúmenes, forma parte de la sistematización de experiencias relacionadas con las temáticas abordadas por el TCU No. 540 y el GPDS. Este volumen está compuesto por doce capítulos, desarrollados por veintiocho académicos costarricenses, brasileños y colombianos donde se reflexiona de manera interdisciplinaria sobre el sexto objetivo de la agenda de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la ONU en el contexto de pandemia actual.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Acción Social::Trabajo Comunal Universitario (TCU

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