Type I interferons in tuberculosis: Foe and occasionally friend

Tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and, despite its clinical significance, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of pathogenic and protective mechanisms triggered by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Type I interferons (IFN) regulate a broad family of genes that either stimulate or inhibit immune function, having both host-protective and detrimental effects, and exhibit well-characterized antiviral activity. Transcriptional studies have uncovered a potential deleterious role for type I IFN in active tuberculosis. Since then, additional studies in human tuberculosis and experimental mouse models of M. tuberculosis infection support the concept that type I IFN promotes both bacterial expansion and disease pathogenesis. More recently, studies in a different setting have suggested a putative protective role for type I IFN. In this study, we discuss the mechanistic and contextual factors that determine the detrimental versus beneficial outcomes of type I IFN induction during M. tuberculosis infection, from human disease to experimental mouse models of tuberculosis

Study on the perception of DIY in domotics in Portugal

The growth of the home automation market depends on technological innovations, rapid evolution of the Internet of Things and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) solutions. This project analysed the perception about domotics related to DIY in Portugal, intending to understand if smart home technologies are used and valued, which factors motivate their acquisition, their purpose and the advantages perceived by users. A questionnaire was used to collect data, resulting in an exploratory study based on data from a convenience sample. The model to evaluate this study was based on the constructs based on Technology Acceptance Models - TAM. From the results obtained, it was concluded that the respondents have a positive perception about domotics and its usefulness faced with DIY on the technologies that make a smart home. Regarding the acquisition and installation of technologies associated with home automation on their own, the respondents are divided, as half consider that they can do it autonomously and the other half only with the intervention of specialists in home automation

Are we building too many arteriovenous fistulas? A single-center experience

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistula has been associated with improved morbimortality in hemodialysis patients. This has resulted in the “fistula First, catheter last” initiative. Nonetheless, the survival benefit of arteriovenous fistula has been questioned. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of all patients with non-end stage renal disease referred for first vascular access building between January 2014 and December 2015 in our hospital center. Our main goal was to evaluate the clinical impact and burden of building fistula in predialysis patients. Results: During this period, of 178 first arteriovenous accesses placed, 87 patients remained in predialysis and 91 patients started a chronic hemodialysis program. Median follow-up time by a nephrologist was 3.9 (2.5, 9.7) years. The mean age was 65.8±14.7 years, with 50.6% (n=90) of male patients. A higher rate of thrombosis in the predialysis group (26% vs 13%, p=0.037) was observed, but vascular access survival did not differ significantly (55% vs 67%, p=0.12). Mean vascular access placing was higher in the predialysis group (1.4±0.7 vs 1.2±0.4, p=0.006) and less interventions were requested (0.2±0.5 vs 0.3±0.6, p=0.10). Median time from vascular access placement to hemodialysis start was 22 (13, 41) months. At hemodialysis initiation, 10 (10.9%) patients used a central venous catheter; 80 (87.9%) patients an arteriovenous fistula, and one patient a graft. A total of 227 vascular accesses were built; 121 (53.3%) in predialysis vs 106 (46.7%) in incident hemodialysis patients. In a multivariate model, the presence of a functional arteriovenous fistula at hemodialysis start was only associated with a trend to survival benefit (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.14-1.00, p=0.05). Conclusions: Our results stress the need for an individual approach and for future tools to assess the risk of death and progression to end-stage renal disease, therefore helping reduce the number of unutilized vascular accesses and rising cost of interventions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of cardiorespiratory fitness and parental lifestyle on adolescents' abdominal obesity

The aims of this study were (1) to analyse the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and parental overweight status (POS) and socioeconomic status (SES) on abdominal obesity. This study was comprised of 779 adolescents (12-18 years). Waist-height ratio (WHtR), 20 m shuttle-run test to ascertain CRF, POS according to World Health Organization recommendations and SES of parents using level of education were analysed. Using WHtR, the prevalence of abdominal obesity was 21.3% (23.5% girls and 17.9% boys; p = 0.062). Regardless of gender, participants who belonged to the WHtR risk group had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower CRF scores than the WHtR non-risk group; 84.4% of girls who belonged to the WHtR risk group had one or two overweight parents (p ≤ 0.05). Boys with low CRF (OR: 6.43; CI: 3.33-12.39) were more likely to belong to the WHtR risk group compared with their lean peers. Girls with low CRF (OR: 1.78; CI: 1.14-2.78) and with at least one overweight parent (OR: 2.50; CI: 1.07-5.85) or two overweight parents (OR: 4.90; CI: 2.08-11.54) were associated with the risk of abdominal obesity. This study highlights the influence of adolescents' family on abdominal obesity, especially in girls. Further, the data suggested that low CRF was a strong predictor of risk values of abdominal obesity in adolescence

Idade e crescimento do boca-negra, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809) dos Açores

A idade e o crescimento de boca-negra, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809), foram estudadas pela observação dos otólitos (sagittae) esquerdos inteiros (n = 401) obtidos de exemplares (14-47 cm de comprimento total) capturados em águas Açoreanas. Enumeraram-se os anéis opacos observados na face anti-sulcal dos otólitos. Os intervalos de idades foram 3-14 anos para machos e 3-12 anos para fêmeas. Estimaram-se e compararam-se os parâmetros da equação de crescimento de von Bertalanffy, entre sexos e entre métodos (leitura directa de otólitos, retrocálculo e análise de distribuições de frequências de comprimentos). Não se verificaram diferenças importantes. Os resultados são diferentes da literatura publicada para a região. Discutem-se as causas e implicações dos resultados obtidos.ABSTRACT: Bluemouth, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809), age and growth were studied by whole-view examination of left sagittae (n = 401) obtained from specimens (14-47 cm in total length) caught off the Azores. Opaque rings observed on the anti-sulcal surface of sagittae were enumerated as age estimates. Ages ranged from 3 to 14 years in males and 3 to 12 years in females. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was fitted to average length at age data, and compared between sexes and methods (direct examination of otoliths, backcalculation and length-frequency analysis). No important differences in growth between sexes were found. Results are different from published literature for the region. The causes and implications of the results are discussed

Concentração nas atividades agropecuárias de Goias entre 1996-2006: implicações para o desenvolvimento rural sustentável.

Resumo: O estudo procura avaliar as transformações estruturais na agropecuária de Goiás na última década, destacando a elevada concentração do uso da terra e sua sensível piora entre 1996 e 2006. Em 2006, os pequenos estabelecimentos (com até 200 hectares) somaram 81,85% e 19,79% da área de cultivo e criação. As Curvas de Lorenz e os Coeficientes de Gini calculados mostram maior assimetria nas atividades de florestas plantadas e lavouras temporárias. Goiás tem 65,2% dos estabelecimentos dirigidos por produtores familiares com posse de apenas 13% da área de cultivo, mas que empregam 68,37% da mão-de-obra rural. Em contraste, as grandes propriedades geram apenas 14,36% dos postos de trabalho. O modelo agrário e as políticas de crédito rural adotados ajudam a explicar a elevada concentração fundiária. Uma alternativa plausível para mitigar tais contrastes é apoiar mais efetivamente a agricultura familiar e os produtores rurais de menor porte, que têm importante papel na produção agrícola para o atendimento do mercado interno e na geração de renda e emprego para a população rural. Esta pode ser uma estratégia de desenvolvimento capaz de promover sistemas produtivos locais mais eficientes e de proporcionar uma maior igualdade econômico-social no Estado. Concentration ratio in agricultural activities in Goiá during 1996-2006: implications for sustainable rural development. Abstract - The study aims to evaluate the structural changes in Goiás´s agricultural sector in last decade, underling the high concentration ratio in land use and its sustainable growth between 1996-2006. In 2006, farms less than 200 hectares added up to 81.85% and 19.79% of the agricultural area. The Lorenz Curves and Gini Ratios showed greater asymmetry in planted forests and temporary crops. Goiás has 65.2% of the production units run by family farmers which accounted for only 13% of the cultivated area, but has employed 68.37% of rural labor force. In contrast, large production units generated only 14.36% of the rural jobs. The agrarian model and the design of government agricultural programs may have a key role in explaining the high concentration in Goiás´s farm structure. A possible way to diminish these disparities is to support more effectively small-scale farmers and familiar rural producers that play an important role in generating food for the domestic market and employment and income for rural population. This may be a strategic policy to promote efficient local production systems and less socioeconomic inequalities in Goiás State

Cercosporin quantification in Cercospora coffeicola isolates by spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography: a comparative analysis

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Duration of breastfeeding and the risk of childhood asthma in children living in urban areas

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases during childhood, and the role of breastfeeding in its developmentremains controversial. Our objective was to quantify the association between the duration of breastfeeding and the occurrence of asthma in infancy