Lipidomic Analysis Reveals Serum Alteration of Plasmalogens in Patients Infected With ZIKA Virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) in the Flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family. Since the large outbreaks in French Polynesia in 2013–2014 and in Brazil in 2015, ZIKV has been considered a new public health threat. Similar to other related flavivirus, ZIKV is associated with mild and self-limiting symptoms such as rash, pruritus, prostration, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, conjunctivitis, lower back pain and, when present, a short-term low grade fever. In addition, ZIKV has been implicated in neurological complications such as neonatal microcephaly and Guillain–Barré syndrome in adults. Herein, serum lipidomic analysis was used to identify possible alterations in lipid metabolism triggered by ZIKV infection. Patients who presented virus-like symptoms such as fever, arthralgia, headache, exanthema, myalgia and pruritus were selected as the control group. Our study reveals increased levels of several phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipid species in the serum of ZIKV patients, the majority of them plasmenyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (pPE) (or plasmalogens) linked to polyunsaturated fatty acids. Constituting up to 20% of total phospholipids in humans, plasmalogens linked to polyunsaturated fatty acids are particularly enriched in neural membranes of the brain. The biosynthesis of plasmalogens requires functional peroxisomes, which are important sites for viral replication, including ZIKV. Thus, increased levels of plasmalogens in serum of ZIKV infected subjects suggest a link between ZIKV life cycle and peroxisomes. Our data provide important insights into specific host cellular lipids that are likely associated with ZIKV replication and may serve as platform for antiviral strategy against ZIKV

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Demografia dos povos indigenas do alto rio Negro/AM : um estudo de caso de nupcialidade e reprodução

Orientador: Maria Coleta Ferreira Albino de OliveiraTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciencias HumanasResumo: Esta pesquisa se insere nas áreas temáticas da demografia antropológica de etnias, focalizando especificamente a nupcialidade e reprodução, tendo assim uma necessária interface com os estudos etnológicos sobre os povos indígenas em geral e do noroeste amazônico em particular. Pretende-se contribuir com essa interface disciplinar através da incorporação das teorias antropológicas sobre os povos indígenas da região do Alto Rio Negro, noroeste amazônico, testando as hipóteses antropológicas sobre o casamento através de análises demográficas e incorporando nessas análises as idéias e teorias já formuladas. A hipótese que norteia este trabalho é de que as concepções indígenas sobre casamento e reprodução (na antropologia formulada enquanto teorias de aliança e descendência) têm estreitas relações com os padrões de nupcialidade e fecundidade encontrados. Esta discussão que se insere nos estudos demográficos sobre povos indígenas, fecundidade, transição demográfica, e demografia da famíliaAbstract: This research is part of the thematic areas of anthropologic ethnic demography, focusing particularly on nuptiality and reproduction, and so it has a necessary interface with the ethnological studies on the Indians peoples in general, and those of the Northwest Amazon area in particular. The intention is to contribute to this interface between disciplines through the incorporation of the anthropological theories about the Indian peoples of the High Rio Negro region, Northwest Amazon area, testing the anthropologic hypothesis about marriage through demographic analyses and incorporating in these analyses the ideas and theories already formulated. The hypothesis that orients this study is that the Indian conceptions on marriage and reproduction (formulated in anthropology as theories of alliance and decent) have close relationships with the pattems of nuptiality and fertility that have been found. This discussion is part of the demographic studies on Indian Peoples, fertility, demographic transition and family demographyDoutoradoDemografiaDoutor em Demografi

Entre Demografia e Antropologia : povos indígenas no Brasil

Oitavo livro da coleção Saúde dos Povos Indígenas, Entre Demografia e Antropologia: povos indígenas no Brasil apresenta profundas avaliações sobre as dinâmicas populacionais indígenas. A coletânea levanta contribuições que indicam que os escassos dados demográficos de décadas atrás se tornaram mais abundantes, passando a fomentar políticas públicas. Em suas abordagens, a obra passa por pesquisas e conhecimentos multidisciplinares, que vão de questões de migração, mobilidade e dinâmica territorial até a contextualização de dados censitários e a forma como a população indígena é retratada nos censos demográficos do Brasil. A antropóloga Marta Azevedo ressalta a importância de “buscar uma maior participação da população indígena na produção de dados e análises demográficas”. Segundo ela, tão estratégico quanto continuar a fomentar a realização de uma demografia indígena é formar demógrafos indígenas no país. O anseio expressado pela autora e organizadora aparece no último capítulo do livro, que é dividido em três partes: Perspectivas a partir do Campo, Dados Censitários em Contexto e Trajetórias, Categorias, Implicações

Nupcialidade indígena: possibilidades e limitações de análise utilizando os dados do Censo Demográfico de 2010

O presente artigo analisa os dados disponíveis na amostra do Censo Demográfico de 2010 a respeito da nupcialidade da população autodeclarada indígena. Se há uma significativa produção antropológica sobre organização social dos povos indígenas no Brasil, o que contempla aspectos referentes a casamentos, pouco se sabe, a partir de uma perspectiva demográfica, sobre a nupcialidade desse segmento da população e como se dão as uniões endogâmicas e exogâmicas considerando os grupos de raça/cor. Assim, tem-se como objetivo apresentar uma análise dos padrões de nupcialidade, utilizando as categorias pesquisadas do quesito raça/cor no Censo Demográfico de 2010, com foco na população indígena. Especificamente se realiza uma análise da idade média à união e ao casamento e das taxas de homogamia por raça/cor, inclusive separando os casais por grupos de idade da mulher, status marital, situação do domicílio e residentes em municípios com Terras Indígenas. Apesar das evidentes limitações dos dados, e com uso de métodos demográficos indiretos, os resultados revelam que, entre todas as categorias de raça/cor, a idade média à união dos indígenas é a menor e suas taxas padronizadas de endogamia por raça/cor são as mais altas

The Masticatory Activity Interference in Quantitative Estimation of CA1, CA3 and Dentate Gyrus Hippocampal Astrocytes of Aged Murine Models and under Environmental Stimulation

Studies indicating the influence of masticatory dysfunction, due to a soft diet or lack of molars, on impairing spatial memory and learning have led to research about neuronal connections between areas and cell populations possibly affected. In this sense, with scarce detailed data on the subfields of hippocampus in dementia neurodegeneration, there is no information about astrocytic responses in its different layers. Thus, considering this context, the present study evaluated the effects of deprivation and rehabilitation of masticatory activity, aging, and environmental enrichment on the stereological quantification of hippocampal astrocytes from layers CA1, CA3, and DG. For this purpose, we examined mature (6-month-old; 6M), and aged (18-month-old; 18M) mice, subjected to distinct masticatory regimens and environments. Three different regimens of masticatory activity were applied: continuous normal mastication with hard pellets (HD); normal mastication followed by deprived mastication with equal periods of pellets followed by soft powder (HD/SD); or rehabilitated masticatory activity with equal periods of HD, followed by powder, followed by pellets (HD/SD/HD). Under each specific regimen, half of the animals were raised in standard cages (impoverished environment (IE)) and the other half in enriched cages (enriched environment (EE)), mimicking sedentary or active lifestyles. Microscopic stereological, systematic, and random sampling approaches with an optical dissector of GFAP-immunolabeled astrocytes were done, allowing for an astrocyte numerical estimate. Stratum moleculare and hilus, from the dentate gyrus (DG) and Strata Lacunosum-Moleculare, Oriens, and Radiatum, similarly to the dentate gyrus, showed no significant change in any of the investigated variables (age, diet, or environment) in these layers. However, in Stratum radiatum, it was possible to observe significant differences associated with diet regimens and age. Therefore, diet-related differences were found when the HD 18M IE group was compared to the HD/SD/HD 18-month-old group in the same environment (IE) (p = 0.007). In the present study, we present modulatory factors (masticatory function, environmental enrichment, and aging) for the differentiated quantitative laminar response in the hippocampal regions, suggesting other studies to read the plasticity and responsiveness of astrocytes, including the molecular background