Radiocaesium in Tricholoma spp. from the Northern Hemisphere in 1971–2016

A considerable amount of data has been published on the accumulation of radiocaesium ( 134Cs and particularly, 137Cs) in wild fungi since the first anthropogenically influenced releases into the environment due to nuclear weapon testing, usage and subsequently from major accidents at nuclear power plants in Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011). Wild fungi are particularly susceptible to accumulation of radiocaesium and contamination persists for decades after pollution events. Macromycetes (fruiting bodies, popularly called mushrooms) of the edible fungal species are an important part of the human and forest animal food-webs in many global locations. This review discusses published occurrences of 134Cs and 137Cs in twenty four species of Tricholoma mushrooms sourced from the Northern Hemisphere over the last five decades, but also includes some recent data from Italy and Poland. Tricholoma are an ectomycorrhizal species and the interval for contamination to permeate to lower soils layers which host their mycelial networks, results in a delayed manifestation of radioactivity. Available data from Poland, over similar periods, may suggest species selective differences in accumulation, with some fruiting bodies, e.g. T. portentosum, showing lower activity levels relative to others, e.g. T. equestre. Species like T. album, T. sulphurescens and T. terreum also show higher accumulation of radiocaesium, but reported observations are few. The uneven spatial distribution of the data combined with a limited number of observations make it difficult to decipher any temporal contamination patterns from the observations in Polish regions. When data from other European sites is included, a similar variability of 137Cs activity is apparent but the more recent Ukrainian data appears to show relatively lower activities. 40K activity in mushrooms which is associated with essential potassium, remains relatively constant. Further monitoring of 137Cs activity in wild mushrooms would help to consolidate these observations

Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in COVID-19.

Host-mediated lung inflammation is present1, and drives mortality2, in the critical illness caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development3. Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) genome-wide association study in 2,244 critically ill patients with COVID-19 from 208 UK intensive care units. We have identified and replicated the following new genome-wide significant associations: on chromosome 12q24.13 (rs10735079, P = 1.65 × 10-8) in a gene cluster that encodes antiviral restriction enzyme activators (OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3); on chromosome 19p13.2 (rs74956615, P = 2.3 × 10-8) near the gene that encodes tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2); on chromosome 19p13.3 (rs2109069, P = 3.98 ×  10-12) within the gene that encodes dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9); and on chromosome 21q22.1 (rs2236757, P = 4.99 × 10-8) in the interferon receptor gene IFNAR2. We identified potential targets for repurposing of licensed medications: using Mendelian randomization, we found evidence that low expression of IFNAR2, or high expression of TYK2, are associated with life-threatening disease; and transcriptome-wide association in lung tissue revealed that high expression of the monocyte-macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe COVID-19. Our results identify robust genetic signals relating to key host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage in COVID-19. Both mechanisms may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials will be essential before any change to clinical practice

O conhecimento sobre doenças sexualmente transmissíveis entre adolescentes de baixa renda em Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

Esta investigação objetivou identificar o conhecimento de adolescentes sobre as DST, formas de transmissão, uso do preservativo e cuidado em saúde. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com entrevistas de 90 adolescentes do Programa Saúde da Família de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil. A coleta de dados realizou-se através de entrevistas domiciliares utilizando um questionário estruturado, e a análise preliminar por meio da freqüência simples das variáveis. A maioria das entrevistadas era solteira, iniciou a vida sexual e apresentava um conhecimento baixo das DST. O preservativo foi identificado como a principal forma de prevenção das DST e apenas 35,2% referiram seu uso sistemático; comparando-se a primeira e última relações sexuais observou-se grande queda no uso (71,1% e 37,1%, respectivamente). As adolescentes não se percebem em risco de adquirir uma DST (65,5%), no entanto, 57,8% tiveram sintomas relacionados a estas doenças e 36,7% nunca tiveram atendimento ginecológico. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de uma atenção diferenciada, pois além de apresentarem pouco conhecimento sobre as DST, as adolescentes estão em situação vulnerável pela ausência efetiva de métodos, embora não se percebam nesta condição

An overview of the lithium content and lithiation of the cultivable macrofungal species, Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus spp.

Background: Lithium (Li) therapy has long been used as an effective treatment for bipolar affective disorders and research continues on its reported benefits in treating neurodegenerative brain diseases. However, it also elicits side-effects which may be related to the form and quantity of dosage. The mycelium and fruiting bodies of popular edible macrofungi, A. bisporus and P. ostreatus have shown promising results in the ability to enrich Li and could potentially serve as an alternative, more calibrated and bio-accessible source. Scope and approach: This review is focused to feature results from studies that have been carried out, both on the natural occurrence of Li in wild and cultivated common edible Agaricus spp. and Pleurotus spp. mushrooms as well as on the lithation of their mycelia and fruiting bodies. Key findings and conclusions: Lithium occurs ubiquitously in wild Agaricus and Pleurotus fungi at relatively low concentrations, typically ranging from < 0.02 to ~1.0 mg kg− 1 dry weight (dw). Cultivated, retailed specimens show similar (0.03–~0.5 mg kg− 1 dw) concentrations. In contrast, the lithiated mycelia of P. ostreatus achieved a maximum Li concentration of ~1600 mg kg− 1 dw, and the edible fruiting bodies of A. bisporus and P. ostreatus were found to be lithiated to levels of ~40 mg kg− 1 dw and ~10–~100 mg kg− 1 dw. The Li concentration of 38 mg kg− 1 dw achieved for A. bisporus using Li2O compost fortification represents around 200 to 400-fold enrichment relative to the control or retail mushrooms. The process of compost fortification did not introduce contaminant elements such as Cd, Hg, Pb, above the regulation levels within the EU, or above those typically seen in the retail products. Such enriched mushrooms consumed as part of the diet, would allow a more controlled release of Li in the digestive system because of the longer digestion period (as compared to Li salts which are rapidly absorbed) which could potentially reduce or remove some of the side effects that have been reported. More targeted studies are required in order to clarify the absorption and pharmacokinetics of Li contained in these enriched mushrooms