Piolhos hematófagos podem disseminar infecção pelo Trypanosoma cruzi em babuínos

Trypanosoma cruzi (Schyzotrypanum, Chagas, 1909), and Chagas disease are endemic in captive-reared baboons at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas. We obtained PCR amplification products from DNA extracted from sucking lice collected from the hair and skin of T. cruzi-infected baboons, with specific nested sets of primers for the protozoan kinetoplast DNA, and nuclear DNA. These products were hybridized to their complementary internal sequences. Selected sequences were cloned and sequencing established the presence of T. cruzi nuclear DNA, and minicircle kDNA. Competitive PCR with a kDNA set of primers determined the quantity of approximately 23.9 ± 18.2 T. cruzi per louse. This finding suggests that the louse may be a vector incidentally contributing to the dissemination of T. cruzi infection in the baboon colony.As infecções pelo Trypanosoma cruzi e a doença de Chagas são endêmicas em babuínos (Papio hamadryas) reproduzidos em cativeiro na Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, em Santo Antonio, Texas. Nós obtivemos produtos de amplificação por PCR do DNA extraído de piolhos colhidos do cabelo e da pele de babuínos chagásicos, com primers aneladores específicos para DNAs nuclear e de cinetoplasto do protozoário. Esses produtos foram hibridizados com suas respectivas seqüências internas complementares. Seqüências selecionadas foram clonadas e o sequenciamento demonstrou a presença de DNA nuclear de T. cruzi, e de minicírculo de kDNA. A PCR competitiva com primers de kDNA determinou a quantidade de aproximadamente 23.9 ± 18.2 T. cruzi por piolho. Este achado sugere que o piolho pode ser um vetor contribuindo para a disseminação de T. cruzi na colônia de babuínos

Developing a Common Framework for Evaluating the Implementation of Genomic Medicine Interventions in Clinical Care: The IGNITE Network’s Common Measures Working Group

Purpose Implementation research provides a structure for evaluating the clinical integration of genomic medicine interventions. This paper describes the Implementing GeNomics In PracTicE (IGNITE) Network’s efforts to promote: 1) a broader understanding of genomic medicine implementation research; and 2) the sharing of knowledge generated in the network. Methods To facilitate this goal the IGNITE Network Common Measures Working Group (CMG) members adopted the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to guide their approach to: identifying constructs and measures relevant to evaluating genomic medicine as a whole, standardizing data collection across projects, and combining data in a centralized resource for cross network analyses. Results CMG identified ten high-priority CFIR constructs as important for genomic medicine. Of those, eight didn’t have standardized measurement instruments. Therefore, we developed four survey tools to address this gap. In addition, we identified seven high-priority constructs related to patients, families, and communities that did not map to CFIR constructs. Both sets of constructs were combined to create a draft genomic medicine implementation model. Conclusion We developed processes to identify constructs deemed valuable for genomic medicine implementation and codified them in a model. These resources are freely available to facilitate knowledge generation and sharing across the field

Conselhos setoriais: perfil dos conselheiros e sua influência na tomada de decisão

Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar o perfil dos conselheiros de quatro conselhos setoriais do Município de Santo André com a finalidade de compreender de que forma fatores como idade, escolaridade, gênero, entre outros, podem influenciar positiva ou negativamente na representividade destes Conselhos. Para isso, foram realizadas entrevistas e feita análise de documentos internos e atas das reuniões dos conselhos. Os resultados demonstram que, embora existam diferenças no que se refere à escolaridade dos representantes da sociedade civil e do poder público que poderiam refletir uma correlação de forças desigual dentro dos conselhos, os representantes da sociedade civil possuem forte liderança, o que facilita o retorno das informações à sociedade e vice-versa. Conclui-se que, para que os conselhos locais tornem-se um canal de participação mais equilibrado, é preciso investir na capacitação dos conselheiros e em mecanismos de incentivo à participação de jovens.This article aims to present a profile of councilors that take part in four sector councils of the municipality of Santo André, in order to understand how factors such as age, education and gender, among others, can positively or negatively influence the council's representativeness. For this, we conducted interviews and analyzed internal documents and records of meetings when available. Results show that, although there are educational differences among representatives of civil society and public authorities which could reflect an unequal correlation of forces within the councils, representatives of civil society have strong leadership, which facilitates the exchange of information with society.. Then, we conclude that, in order to become a more balanced participation channel, it is necessary to ensure effective training and representativeness; it is necessary also tostimulate the participation of youth

The contribution of meteorological parameters and the COVID-19 partial lockdown on air quality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This study evaluated the pollutant levels (NO2, SO2, CO, and O3), air quality index (AQI) and the influence of meteorological variables and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the air quality in Rio de Janeiro. The data set used comprises periods before (March-April, 2019) and during pandemic (March-April, 2020). According to the AQI results, on most days, the air quality was ranked as “good”. Brazilian air quality standards for SO2, O3, and NO2 were not exceeded in any of the monitoring stations during partial lockdown, while CO exceeded in all periods in one site due to industrial emission. Comparing both periods, descriptive statistics for the meteorological parameters presented no differences, which suggests similar conditions. However, when evaluated week by week in 2020, weather conditions presented some differences that probably affected pollutant concentrations. The correlations between O3 and NO2 and some meteorological parameters indicate that variations in both favored ozone formation, since it is a photochemical process favored by temperature and solar radiation and that, in Rio de Janeiro, low NO2 concentrations lead to increased O3. The improvements on air quality during the partial lockdown may be attributed mainly to a reduction on emission sources rather than weather conditions.Campus Lima Centr

Nuclear factor kappa B pathway associated biomarkers in AIDS defining malignancies

The Nuclear Factor kappa B (NFkB) pathway is essential for many human cancers. Therapeutics such as bortezomib (Velcade™), which interfere with nuclear factor NF-kappa-B(NFkB)signaling are of great clinical interest. NFkB signaling, however, is multifaceted and variable among tissues, developmental, and disease entities. Hence, targeted biomarkers of NFkB pathways are of prime importance for clinical research. We developed a novel real-time qPCR-based NFkB array. Only mechanistically validated NFkB targets were included. We then used random-forest classification to define individual genes and gene combinations within the NFkB pathways that define viral lymphoma subclasses as well as Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Few NFkB targets emerged that were universally present in all tumor types tested, underscoring the need for additional tumor-type specific biomarker discovery. (i) We uncovered tissue of origin-specific tumor markers, specifically CD69, CSF-1, and complement factor B (C1QBP)for PEL; IL1-beta, cyclinD3 and CD48for KS. We found that IL12, jun-B, msx-1 and thrombospondin 2 were associated with EBV co-infection in PEL. (ii) We defined the NFkB signature of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)positive AIDS-associated Burkitt lymphoma(BL). This signature identified CCR5 as the key marker. (iii) This signature differed from EBV negative BL consistent with the idea that EBV not only activates NFkB activity but that this virus also reprograms NFkB signaling towards different targets

An evaluation of the Adverse Childhood Experience Trauma Informed Multi-agency Early Action Together (ACE TIME) training: national roll out to police and partners

In a rapidly changing society, modern policing faces new pressures and increasing demands to respond to incidents of high threat, harm, risk and vulnerability. Responding to such incidents has become a core element of policing across the UK. Whilst the police are well placed to identify and respond to vulnerability, research has highlighted that traditional policing methods, training and systems are not designed to meet the changing levels and types of vulnerability demand. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing (CoP) have highlighted the need to transform policing within the UK to develop a workforce of confident professionals with the skills to respond to vulnerability and the complex needs of the local community. The pan-Wales Early Action Together (E.A.T.) programme aimed to develop a whole systems response to vulnerability to enable police and multi-agency (MA) partners to recognise signs of vulnerability at the earliest opportunity and to work together to provide access to support beyond statutory services. Key to achieving this was the development and delivery of the Adverse Childhood Experience Trauma Informed Multi-agency Early Action Together (ACE TIME) training programme. The ACE TIME training aims to ensure that police and MA partners have the appropriate knowledge and skill to respond to vulnerability using an ACE and trauma-informed approach. The training built on a small-scale pilot carried out within South Wales police1 and was further developed by the ACE Coordinator Service positioned within Barnardo’s and the E.A.T. national programme team. Public Health Wales and Bangor University undertook an independent evaluation of the ACE TIME training to capture its immediate impact on police and MA partners’ knowledge, practice, competence and confidence when responding to vulnerability. The evaluation comprised a number of pre and post-training questionnaires that incorporated previously validated measures1 and a number of open-ended questions (see pg. 21) with open text boxes for participant’s comments. The current report evaluated the phase one roll out of the ACE TIME training (from September 2018 to January 2019). During the data collection period, 1,034 professionals were trained, of which 996 participated in the evaluation (849 police officers or staff and 147 MA partners). Police and MA partners across Wales from a range of different operational roles and teams took part in the evaluation (see table 3, pg. 24). Among police participants, approximately half worked in response roles (i.e., ‘999’ response; 51%). A further 21% worked within neighbourhood policing teams (NPT); and those from the public protection unit (PPU), custody, criminal investigation department (CID) and other investigative roles made up the remainder of departments (28%). Among MA partners, approximately 22% worked with children and young people’s education services; 22% within safeguarding, social care and family sector, 22% within the health and well-being sector and 16% in housing, community and local authority

Understanding the landscape of policing when responding to vulnerability: interviews with frontline officers across Wales

The National Adverse Childhood Experiences Approach to Policing Vulnerability: Early Action Together (E.A.T) programme is a unique collaboration between Public Health Wales and the four Welsh Police Forces and Police and Crime Commissioners, in partnership with Criminal Justice, Youth Justice and third sector organisations, funded by the Home Office to deliver a national programme of change across Wales. Whilst public safety, welfare and vulnerability is the highest demand for UK police forces, frontline officers and staff face many challenges responding to vulnerable individuals. The E.A.T. programme sets out to address these challenges and transform how police and partner agencies work together to respond to vulnerability beyond statutory safeguarding. Recognising the importance of early intervention and preventative action, this programme will develop a whole systems response to vulnerability to ensure pathways for support are available for the police when vulnerability falls below thresholds for statutory support. Building into current systems, this work will utilise existing community assets to develop a bank of resources for police and partners to draw upon when supporting people in their communities. This report is the first in a series of reports that has sought to understand the landscape in policing vulnerability across Wales, which in turn will support the E.A.T programme approach. It outlines the reality of responding to vulnerable individuals for frontline officers, the enablers and blockers in current service delivery and examines the introduction of the Adverse Childhood Experience Trauma-Informed Multi-agency Early Action Together training (ACE TIME training). This report provides the individual, situational and organisational context within which to view post ACE TIME training findings and provide key recommendations when preparing to deliver a National transformational and cultural change programme within policing. To capture the rich, complex picture of policing vulnerability 152 semi-structured interviews with a range of different policing roles across Wales were conducted. A review of the literature provided an understanding of the nature of vulnerability demand, examined key aspects that influence responses to incidents of vulnerability and explored potential factors that may affect engagement with the transformational change the E.A.T programme attempts to achieve. A number of key areas emerged from the literature that informed interviews with frontline staff: (1) Previous knowledge and understanding of vulnerability through training, systems, policy and guidance; (2) Understanding and attitudes towards ‘trauma-informed’ approaches and ACEs, in a police context; (3) Experiences and views on multi-agency working and collaborative working; (4) Workforce wellbeing, with a strong evidential link between the importance of wellbeing, organisational support and organisational belonging; (5) Attitudes and perceptions of transformational and organisational change programmes within policing

The Role of Histone Methyltransferases and Long Non-coding RNAs in the Regulation of T Cell Fate Decisions

T cell lineage decisions are critical for the development of proper immune responses to pathogens as well as important for the resolution of inflammatory responses. This differentiation process relies on a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors converging upon epigenetic regulation of transcriptional networks relevant to specific T cell lineages. As these biochemical modifications represent therapeutic opportunities in cancer biology and autoimmunity, implications of writers and readers of epigenetic marks to immune cell differentiation and function are highly relevant. Given the ready adoption of histone methyltransferase inhibitors in the clinic, we focus this review on the role of three histone modifying complexes: PRC-1, PRC-2, and G9A in modulating T cell fate decisions. Furthermore, we explore the role of long non-coding RNAs in regulating these processes, and discuss recent advances and challenges of implementing epigenetic therapies into clinical practice

The state of the Martian climate

60°N was +2.0°C, relative to the 1981–2010 average value (Fig. 5.1). This marks a new high for the record. The average annual surface air temperature (SAT) anomaly for 2016 for land stations north of starting in 1900, and is a significant increase over the previous highest value of +1.2°C, which was observed in 2007, 2011, and 2015. Average global annual temperatures also showed record values in 2015 and 2016. Currently, the Arctic is warming at more than twice the rate of lower latitudes

Respondent-Driven Sampling of Injection Drug Users in Two U.S.–Mexico Border Cities: Recruitment Dynamics and Impact on Estimates of HIV and Syphilis Prevalence

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS), a chain referral sampling approach, is increasingly used to recruit participants from hard-to-reach populations, such as injection drug users (IDUs). Using RDS, we recruited IDUs in Tijuana and Ciudad (Cd.) Juárez, two Mexican cities bordering San Diego, CA and El Paso, TX, respectively, and compared recruitment dynamics, reported network size, and estimates of HIV and syphilis prevalence. Between February and April 2005, we used RDS to recruit IDUs in Tijuana (15 seeds, 207 recruits) and Cd. Juárez (9 seeds, 197 recruits), Mexico for a cross-sectional study of behavioral and contextual factors associated with HIV, HCV and syphilis infections. All subjects provided informed consent, an anonymous interview, and a venous blood sample for serologic testing of HIV, HCV, HBV (Cd. Juárez only) and syphilis antibody. Log-linear models were used to analyze the association between the state of the recruiter and that of the recruitee in the referral chains, and population estimates of the presence of syphilis antibody were obtained, correcting for biased sampling using RDS-based estimators. Sampling of the targeted 200 recruits per city was achieved rapidly (2 months in Tijuana, 2 weeks in Cd. Juárez). After excluding seeds and missing data, the sample prevalence of HCV, HIV and syphilis were 96.6, 1.9 and 13.5% respectively in Tijuana, and 95.3, 4.1, and 2.7% respectively in Cd. Juárez (where HBV prevalence was 84.7%). Syphilis cases were clustered in recruitment trees. RDS-corrected estimates of syphilis antibody prevalence ranged from 12.8 to 26.8% in Tijuana and from 2.9 to 15.6% in Ciudad Juárez, depending on how recruitment patterns were modeled, and assumptions about how network size affected an individual’s probability of being included in the sample. RDS was an effective method to rapidly recruit IDUs in these cities. Although the frequency of HIV was low, syphilis prevalence was high, particularly in Tijuana. RDS-corrected estimates of syphilis prevalence were sensitive to model assumptions, suggesting that further validation of RDS is necessary