Polymorphisms in VEGF and KDR genes in the development of endometriosis: a systematic review

Abstract Objectives: to review studies that used case-control design to verify the association of polymorphisms in VEGF an

Diagnóstico da pecuária leiteira do município de Paragominas, mesorregião Sudeste, estado do Pará, Brasil / Diagnosis of dairy farming in the county of Paragominas, Southeastern mesoregion, state of Pará, Brazil

O objetivo do estudo foi diagnosticar a pecuária leiteira do município de Paragominas, mesorregião sudeste paraense. A metodologia foi baseada na aplicação 107 questionários nas propriedades leiteiras de setembro de 2013 a agosto de 2014. Os resultados mostraram que o tamanho total da área das propriedades variou de 8 a 250 ha, o plantel médio de vacas existentes nas propriedades foi de 96 vacas, a média de vacas ordenhadas 63, com produção média de 272 l/dia e produção média por animal 4,22 l/vaca/dia. As principais espécies de gramíneas utilizadas eram 66,6% braquiarão (Brachiaria brizantha), 42,2% mombaça (Panicum maximum), 44,4%% quicuio (Brachiaria humidicola) e 15,5% tobiatã (Panicum maximum cv. Tobiatã). Quanto à sanidade do rebanho 93,3% dos proprietários realizavam vacinação para febre aftosa e 66,7% para brucelose. Em relação ao manejo da ordenha, 90,7% a realizavam de forma manual, 27,9% das propriedades tinha água encanada no local, a maioria não possuíam condições de higiene adequadas, comprometendo a qualidade do leite. Quanto ao acesso à assistência técnica, 83,3% dos produtores declararam não ter acesso. O valor pago pelo leite era de R$0,55 a R$0,75/litro e a venda do queijo artesanal ou massa era em média R$6,00. As maiores dificuldades relatadas pelos produtores eram: falta de conhecimento na atividade leiteira, ausência de assistência técnica, baixo preço pago pelo leite e dificuldade de acesso ao credito. Contudo, é necessário pesquisas e alternativas para melhorar a produtividade e a sustentabilidade dos sistemas, conhecer a realidade dos estabelecimentos, serve de suporte para órgãos públicos e privados para o desenvolvimento de ações, extensão rural, acesso ao crédito, curso de capacitação e geração de tecnologias para os agentes envolvidos na cadeia produtiva do leite do município

Clinical, Laboratory and Neurodevelopmental Findings in Children from the Yanomami-Ninam Population Chronically Exposed to Methylmercury

Despite legal safeguards, the Yanomami community faces challenges such as unauthorized incursions by gold miners, resulting in environmental degradation, particularly from mercury. This jeopardizes the health and food security of indigenous individuals, especially due to the consumption of contaminated fish. Ethnic and racial disparities persist in indigenous healthcare, marked by troubling health indicators such as malnutrition, anemia, and infectious diseases. This cross-sectional study, conducted in October 2022 in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in the Amazon Forest, Brazil, presented clinical, laboratory, and neurodevelopmental findings in Yanomami children chronically exposed to methylmercury. The results revealed that Yanomami children exhibited weights and heights below expectations (median Z-scores of −1.855 for weight for age and −2.7 for height for age), a high prevalence of anemia (25%), low vaccination coverage (15%), and low IQ (average 68.6). The Total Hair Mercury (Total Hg) levels ranged from 0.16 µg/g to 10.20 µg/g (mean: 3.30 µg/g; median: 3.70 µg/g). Of 117 children tested, 93 children (79.4%) had levels ≥ 2.0 µg/g (had no significant difference between sex). Among the 58 children for whom it was possible to estimate the Total Intelligence Quotient (TIQ), the average value was 68.6, ranging from 42 to 92 points (median: 69.5; standard deviation: 10.5). Additionally, the lowest score on the IQ test was associated with 5 times the risk of having high levels of mercury in their hair, 2,5 fold the risk of having an older age, and almost 8 times the risk of consuming fish, adjusting for nut consumption. Notwithstanding the study’s limitations, results suggest that mercury contamination from illegal mining activities on indigenous lands may negatively impact neurodevelopment in older indigenous children, particularly those fish consumers, despite the inherent benefits of fish consumption. Addressing other socio-environmental concerns is crucial for enhancing the overall health of the population

Polymorphisms in VEGF and KDR genes in the development of endometriosis: a systematic review

Abstract Objectives: to review studies that used case-control design to verify the association of polymorphisms in VEGF and KDR genes in the development of endometriosis. Methods: the systematic review selected articles published until September 1, 2015 from PubMed, MEDLINE, BVS, SciELO databases, considering the following key words: endometriosis and ("polymorphism" or "SNP" or "genetic polymorphism") and ("VEGF" OR "Vascular endothelial growth factor" or "VEGFR-2" or "Vascular endothelial growth factor-2" or "KDR" or "Kinase Insert Domain Receptor"). Results: 106 articles were identified, only 11 were eligible. Discrepant results were observed regarding polymorphisms in VEGF gene in the development of endometriosis, which can be explained by methodological differences, sample size, eligible control type, using the unadjusted risk estimates and the heterogeneity of the studied population. Only one study investigated polymorphisms in KDR gene in the development of endometriosis, however it was ineligible for this review. Conclusions: to avoid discrepancy in the results, we suggest that the ideal control group should be formed by fertile women and free of gynecological diseases. Multicentric studies with adequate design, involving different population besides the combined analysis on polymorphisms in VEGF and KDR genes are still necessary to contribute in the understanding of this disease, which are social, clinical and economical problems

Genetic Polymorphism of Delta Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase (ALAD) Gene and Symptoms of Chronic Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Children within the Brazilian Amazon

Genetic polymorphisms involved in mercury toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics may be associated with severe mercury toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an ALAD polymorphism on chronic mercury exposure and the health situation of indigenous children from the Brazilian Amazon. One-hundred-and-three indigenous children (under 15 years old) were included and genotyped (rs1800435) using a TaqMan validated assay. The mean age was 6.6 ± 4.5 years old, 60% were female, 49% presented with anemia, and the mean hair mercury concentration was 7.0 ± 4.5 (1.4–23.9) µg/g, with 49% exceeding the reference limit (≥6.0 µg/g). Only two children were heterozygous ALAD, while the others were all wild type. Minor allele frequency (ALAD G) and heterozygous genotype (ALAD CG) were 1% and 2%, respectively. The two children (12 and 14 years old) with the ALAD polymorphism had mercury levels above the average as well as had neurological symptoms related to chronic mercury exposure, such as visual field alterations, memory deficit, distal neuropathy, and toe amyotrophy. Both children also reported frequent consumption of fish in the diet, at least three times a week. In conclusion, our data confirm that an ALAD polymorphism can contribute to mercury half-life time, harmful effects, and neuropsychological disorders in indigenous children with chronic mercury exposure to gold mining activity

Chronic Mercury Exposure and GSTP1 Polymorphism in Munduruku Indigenous from Brazilian Amazon

Genetic polymorphisms may be involved with mercury levels and signs and symptoms of intoxication from this exposure. Therefore, the aims were to describe the frequency of the GSTP1 polymorphism and to evaluate its effects on mercury levels and neurological signs in three Munduruku indigenous villages in the Brazilian Amazon. One-hundred-and-seven indigenous (over 12 years old) were included and genotyped (rs1695) using a TaqMan validated assay. Then, associations were evaluated by binary logistic regression, using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Mean age was 27.4 ± 13.9 years old, 52.3% were male, mean hair mercury concentration was 8.5 ± 4.3, exceeding the reference limit (≥ 6.0 µg/g), and were different among the three villages: 13.5 ± 4.6 µg/g in Sawré Aboy, 7.4 ± 2.3 µg/g in Poxo Muybu and 6.9±3.5 µg/g in Sawré Muybu. The minor allele frequency of GSTP1 G was significantly different among the villages: 57% Sawré Muybu, 21% Poxo Muybu and 15% Sawré Aboy. Finally, after adjustment, GSTP1 GG and GA genotypes were associated with lower levels of Hg (OR = 0.13; CI95% = 0.03–0.49) and abnormal somatosensory signs (OR = 3.7; 95%IC = 1.5–9.3), respectively. In conclusion, monitoring this population is imperative to identify individuals at higher risk of developing signs of chronic mercury exposure based on the genetic profile

Chronic mercury exposure and GSTP1 polymorphism in Munduruku Indigenous from Brazilian Amazon

This research was funded by the vice presidency of environment, care and health promotion (VPAAS) of Fundação Oswaldo Cruz through the Decentralized Execution of Resources Document No. 175/2018, Process: 25000.209221/2018-18, signed between the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz and the Special Department for Indigenous Health, both under the Ministry of Health. This study was supported by the Brazilian agency Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro—FAPERJ and by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).State University of Rio de Janeiro - West Zone. Research Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil / Oswald Cruz Foundation. National School of Public Health. Program of Post-Graduation in Public Health and Environment. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.University of São Paulo. Faculty of Medicine. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Oswald Cruz Foundation. Polytechnic School of Health Joaquim Venâcio. Laboratory of Professional Education in Health Surveillance. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.University of São Paulo. Faculty of Medicine. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.University of São Paulo. Faculty of Medicine. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.State University of Rio de Janeiro - West Zone. Research Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Oswald Cruz Foundation. Polytechnic School of Health Joaquim Venâcio. Department of Endemic Diseases Samuel Pessoa. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Oswald Cruz Foundation. Polytechnic School of Health Joaquim Venâcio. Program of Post-Graduation in Public Health and Environment. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil / Oswald Cruz Foundation. Polytechnic School of Health Joaquim Venâcio. Department of Endemic Diseases Samuel Pessoa. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.State University of Rio de Janeiro - West Zone. Research Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Genetic polymorphisms may be involved with mercury levels and signs and symptoms of intoxication from this exposure. Therefore, the aims were to describe the frequency of the GSTP1 polymorphism and to evaluate its effects on mercury levels and neurological signs in three Munduruku indigenous villages in the Brazilian Amazon. One-hundred-and-seven indigenous (over 12 years old) were included and genotyped (rs1695) using a TaqMan validated assay. Then, associations were evaluated by binary logistic regression, using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Mean age was 27.4 ± 13.9 years old, 52.3% were male, mean hair mercury concentration was 8.5 ± 4.3, exceeding the reference limit (≥6.0 µg/g), and were different among the three villages: 13.5 ± 4.6 µg/g in Sawré Aboy, 7.4 ± 2.3 µg/g in Poxo Muybu and 6.9 ± 3.5 µg/g in Sawré Muybu. The minor allele frequency of GSTP1 G was significantly different among the villages: 57% Sawré Muybu, 21% Poxo Muybu and 15% Sawré Aboy. Finally, after adjustment, GSTP1 GG and GA genotypes were associated with lower levels of Hg (OR = 0.13; CI95% = 0.03–0.49) and abnormal somatosensory signs (OR = 3.7; 95%IC = 1.5–9.3), respectively. In conclusion, monitoring this population is imperative to identify individuals at higher risk of developing signs of chronic mercury exposure based on the genetic profile